Detector unit with multiple integrated sensing systems and visually pleasing housing

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a multi-sensing hazard detector for detecting potential dangers may include a back plate and a front casing that is coupled with the back plate to define a housing. A circuit board and a plurality of components may be positioned within the housing. The circuit board may be communicatively coupled with the components. The components may include, among other components, an alarm device, an occupancy sensor, and a smoke chamber. The alarm device may be activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard to warn an occupant of a potential danger, the occupancy sensor may be configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects external to the hazard detector, and the smoke chamber may be configured to detect the presence of smoke to cause a triggering of the alarm device. The housing may comprise a volume of less than 1024 cubic centimeters.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No.61/877,186 filed Sep. 12, 2013 entitled “Detector Unit with MultipleIntegrated Sensing Systems and Visually Pleasing Housing,” the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, for allpurposes, as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some homes today are equipped with smart home networks to provideautomated control of devices, appliances and systems, such as heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system, lighting systems,alarm systems, home theater and entertainment systems. Smart homenetworks may include control panels that a person may use to inputsettings, preferences, and scheduling information that the smart homenetwork uses to provide automated control the various devices,appliances and systems in the home. For example, a person may input adesired temperature and a schedule indicating when the person is awayfrom home. The home automation system uses this information to controlthe HVAC system to heat or cool the home to the desired temperature whenthe person is home, and to conserve energy by turning offpower-consuming components of the HVAC system when the person is awayfrom the home. Also, for example, a person may input a preferrednighttime lighting scheme for watching television. In response, when theperson turns on the television at nighttime, the home automation systemautomatically adjusts the lighting in the room to the preferred scheme.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein provide multi-sensing hazard detectordevices and methods therefor. The multi-sensing hazard detector devicesdescribed herein are relatively compact yet functionally powerfuldevices. Stated differently, the multi-sensing hazard detectorsdescribed herein are capable of performing numerous functionaloperations without requiring excessive space on a wall or ceiling. Thus,the multi-sensing hazard detectors are versatile compact devices.According to one embodiment, a multi-sensing hazard detector for use ina building or structure for detecting potential dangers therein isprovided. The multi-sensing hazard detector includes a back plate thatis couplable with a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so asto secure the multi-sensing hazard detector relative thereto. Themulti-sensing hazard detector also includes a front casing that iscoupled with the back plate to define a housing. The housing has aninterior region within which a plurality of components of themulti-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained. Thehousing also has a plurality of openings through which air flows so thatthe air is accessible to the components within the interior region ofthe housing. A circuit board is coupled with the housing and iscommunicatively coupled with the plurality of components.

The plurality of components include, among other components, an alarmdevice, an occupancy sensor, and a smoke chamber. The alarm device iscommunicatively coupled with the circuit board and is activatable uponthe detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of thebuilding or structure of a potential danger. The occupancy sensor isalso communicatively coupled with the circuit board and is configured todetect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons externalto the multi-sensing hazard detector. The smoke chamber is likewisecommunicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured to detectthe presence of smoke and to trigger the alarm device upon the detectionof smoke. The housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises arelatively compact volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters.

In some embodiments, the multi-sensing hazard detector also includes acover plate that is coupled with the front casing so as to face anoccupant of a room or area in which the multi-sensing hazard detector ispositioned. In such embodiments, the total volume of the multi-sensinghazard detector including the cover plate is still less than about 1024cubic centimeters. The multi-sensing hazard detector is relatively flatso as not to extend excessively outwardly from the wall or ceiling. Themulti-sensing hazard detector may have a minimum aspect ratio that isdefined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from thewall or ceiling divided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicular tothe thickness dimension. The multi-sensing hazard detector may also havea maximum aspect ratio that is defined as the thickness dimensiondivided by a shortest lateral dimension perpendicular to the thicknessdimension. Each of the minimum aspect ratio and the maximum aspect ratiomay be less than about 33%. In one embodiment, the minimum aspect ratiomay be less than about 24% and the maximum aspect ratio may be less thanabout 33%.

In some embodiments, a lateral shape of the multi-sensing hazarddetector in a plane perpendicular to the thickness dimension isgenerally square or rectangle. In some embodiments, the multi-sensinghazard detector further includes readable lettering along apredetermined direction of a front surface thereof. When mounted on awall or ceiling a user may recognize a proper orientation of themulti-sensing hazard detector from the readable lettering. In oneembodiment, the volume of the housing of the multi-sensing hazarddetector may be less than about 680 cubic centimeters, or less thanabout 450 cubic centimeters. A thickness of the housing of themulti-sensing hazard detector and cover plate may be less than about 40mm. Likewise, a lateral dimension of the housing may be between therange of about 120 min and 190 mm.

In a specific embodiment, the back plate may have a generally squareconfiguration with dimensions of approximately 110 mm×110 mm. Similarly,the housing may have a generally square configuration with dimensions ofapproximately 134 mm×134 mm. In such an embodiment, the thickness of thehousing and cover plate may be about 38 mm. The occupancy sensor may bean ultrasonic sensor and the plurality of components may further includea passive infrared sensor that is configured to detect the presenceand/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensinghazard detector. The smoke chamber may be mid-mounted with respect tothe circuit board. Mid-mounting of the smoke chamber may facilitate aflatness of the multi-sensing hazard detector so as to minimize saidmaximum and minimum aspect ratios. The multi-sensing hazard detector mayfurther include an outwardly facing PIR sensor comprising a Fresnel lensthat is configured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facingangle.

According to another embodiment, a method of using a multi-sensinghazard detector is provided. The method may include providing amulti-sensing hazard detector and operating the multi-sensing hazarddetector within a building or structure to detect a potential hazard.The multi-sensing hazard detector may include a back plate that iscouplable with a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so as tosecure the multi-sensing hazard detector relative thereto. Themulti-sensing hazard detector may also include a front casing that iscoupled with the back plate to define a housing. The housing may have aninterior region within which a plurality of components of themulti-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained. Thehousing may also have a plurality of openings through which air flows sothat the air is accessible to the components within the interior regionof the housing. A circuit board may be coupled with the housing andcommunicatively coupled with a plurality of components. The plurality ofcomponents may include, among other components, an alarm device, anoccupancy sensor, and a smoke chamber. The alarm device may becommunicatively coupled with the circuit board and may be activatableupon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant ofthe building or structure of a potential danger. The occupancy sensormay be communicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured todetect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons externalto the multi-sensing hazard detector. The smoke chamber may also becommunicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured to detectthe presence of smoke to cause a triggering of the alarm device. Thehousing of the multi-sensing hazard detector may comprise a volume ofless than about 1024 cubic centimeters.

The multi-sensing hazard detector may be relatively flat so as not toextend excessively outwardly from the wall or ceiling. The multi-sensinghazard detector may have a minimum aspect ratio that is defined as athickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceilingdivided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicular to the thicknessdimension. The multi-sensing hazard detector may also have a maximumaspect ratio that is defined as the thickness dimension divided by ashortest lateral dimension perpendicular to the thickness dimension.Each of the minimum aspect ratio and the maximum aspect ratio may beless than about 33%. In one embodiment, the minimum aspect ratio may beless than about 24% and the maximum aspect ratio may be less than about33%. The smoke chamber may be mid-mounted with respect to the circuitboard so as to facilitate a flatness of the multi-sensing hazarddetector and thereby minimize the maximum and minimum aspect ratios.

According to another embodiment, a method for manufacturing amulti-sensing hazard detector is provided. The method includes providinga back plate and coupling a front plate with the back plate. The backplate is couplable with a wall or ceiling of a structure so as to securethe smoke detector to the structure. The coupled front plate and backplate define a housing having an interior region within which aplurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are atleast partially contained. The housing has a plurality of openingsthrough which air flows so that the air is accessible to the componentswithin the interior region of the housing.

The method also includes coupling a circuit board with the housing. Thecircuit board is configured to support and electrically couple one ormore components of the multi-sensing hazard detector. The method furtherincludes communicatively coupling an alarm device with the circuitboard. The alarm device is activatable upon the detection of a potentialhazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of apotential danger. The method additionally includes communicativelycoupling an occupancy sensor with the circuit board. The occupancysensor is configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objectsand/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector. The methodadditionally includes communicatively coupling a smoke chamber with thecircuit board. The smoke chamber is configured to detect the presence ofsmoke to cause a triggering of the alarm device. The housing of themulti-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024cubic centimeters.

In some embodiments, coupling the smoke chamber with the circuit boardincludes mid-mounting the smoke chamber with respect to the circuitboard such that an outwardly facing surface of the smoke chamber ispositioned outward of an outwardly facing surface of the circuit boardand an inwardly facing surface of the smoke chamber is positioned inwardof an inwardly facing surface of the circuit board. In such aconfiguration, smoke is flowable into the smoke chamber from bothoutward of the outwardly facing surface and inward of the inwardlyfacing surface of the circuit board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in conjunction with the appendedfigures:

FIG. 1 an example of a smart-home environment within which one or moreof the devices, methods, systems, services, and/or computer programproducts described further herein will be applicable, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible devices andservices platform with which the smart-home environment of FIG. 1 can beintegrated, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the extensibledevices and services platform of FIG. 2, with reference to a processingengine as well as devices of the smart-home environment, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 4A-H illustrate various perspective exploded and assembled viewsand a cross section view of an intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected hazard detector, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A-C illustrate a front view and perspective views of a mountingplate of the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according toan embodiment.

FIGS. 6A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a back plateof the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 7A-E illustrate various perspective views of a smoke chamber ofthe multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 7F-G illustrate top and/or bottom surfaces of the smoke chamber ofFIGS. 7A-E that include baffles through which air and smoke may flow,according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a protectiveplate of the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according toan embodiment.

FIGS. 9A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a circuitboard of the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according toan embodiment.

FIGS. 9C-D illustrate front and rear perspective views of a speaker thatis mountable on the circuit board of the multi-sensing hazard detectorof FIGS. 9A-B, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 10A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a batterypack of the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 11A-J illustrate various views of a front casing of themulti-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 12A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a lens buttonof the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 12C-D illustrate front and rear perspective views of a light guideof the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 12E-F illustrate front and rear perspective views of a flexiblestrip of the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according toan embodiment.

FIGS. 12G-J illustrate aspects of a Fresnel lens element of the lensbutton of FIGS. 12A-B, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 13A-B illustrate front and rear perspective views of a cover plateof the multi-sensing hazard detector of FIGS. 4A-F, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 14A-B illustrate a schematic diagram of a silence gesture forremotely deactivating an alarm, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of manufacturing a multi-sensing hazarddetector and/or a method of use thereof, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method of making a casing having a pressablebutton portion, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a computersystem.

FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of aspecial-purpose computer.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have thesame numerical reference label. Further, various components of the sametype may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letterthat distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If onlythe first numerical reference label is used in the specification, thedescription is applicable to any one of the similar components and/orfeatures having the same first numerical reference label irrespective ofthe letter suffix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of thedisclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodimentswill provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description forimplementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood thatvarious changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elementswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits,systems, networks, processes, and other elements in the invention may beshown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure theembodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-knowncircuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as aprocess which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flowdiagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchartmay describe the operations as a sequential process, many of theoperations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition,the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process may beterminated when its operations are completed, but could have additionalsteps not discussed or included in a figure. Furthermore, not alloperations in any particularly described process may occur in allembodiments. A process may correspond to a method, a function, aprocedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the functionto the calling function or the main function.

The term “machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited toportable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wirelesschannels and various other mediums capable of storing, containing orcarrying instruction(s) and/or data. A code segment ormachine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, asubprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a softwarepackage, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures,or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another codesegment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information,data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments,parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via anysuitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing,network transmission, etc.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be implemented, at leastin part, either manually or automatically. Manual or automaticimplementations may be executed, or at least assisted, through the useof machines, hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in amachine readable medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.

Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a smart-homeenvironment 100 within which one or more of the devices, methods,systems, services, and/or computer program products described furtherherein can be applicable. The depicted smart-home environment 100includes a structure 150, which can include, e.g., a house, officebuilding, garage, or mobile home. It will be appreciated that devicescan also be integrated into a smart-home environment 100 that does notinclude an entire structure 150, such as an apartment, condominium, oroffice space. Further, the smart home environment can control and/or becoupled to devices outside of the actual structure 150. Indeed, severaldevices in the smart home environment need not physically be within thestructure 150 at all. For example, a device controlling a pool heater orirrigation system can be located outside of the structure 150.

The depicted structure 150 includes a plurality of rooms 152, separatedat least partly from each other via walls 154. The walls 154 can includeinterior walls or exterior walls. Each room can further include a floor156 and a ceiling 158. Devices can be mounted on, integrated with and/orsupported by a wall 154, floor 156 or ceiling 158.

In some embodiments, the smart-home environment 100 of FIG. 1 includes aplurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected devices, that can integrate seamlessly with each otherand/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide anyof a variety of useful smart-home objectives. The smart-home environment100 may include one or more intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected thermostats 102 (herein after referred to as “smartthermostats 102”), one or more intelligent, network-connected,multi-sensing hazard detection units 104 (herein after referred to as“smart hazard detectors 104”), and one or more intelligent,multi-sensing, network-connected entryway interface devices 106 (hereinafter referred to as “smart doorbells 104”). According to embodiments,the smart thermostat 102 detects ambient climate characteristics (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) and controls a HVAC system 103 accordingly.The smart hazard detector 104 may detect the presence of a hazardoussubstance or a substance indicative of a hazardous substance (e.g.,smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide). The smart doorbell 106 may detect aperson's approach to or departure from a location (e.g., an outer door),control doorbell functionality, announce a person's approach ordeparture via audio or visual means, or control settings on a securitysystem (e.g., to activate or deactivate the security system whenoccupant go and come).

In some embodiments, the smart-home environment 100 of FIG. 1 furtherincludes one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wallswitches 108 (herein after referred to as “smart wall switches 108”),along with one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connectedwall plug interfaces 110 (herein after referred to as “smart wall plugs110”). The smart wall switches 108 may detect ambient lightingconditions, detect room-occupancy states, and control a power and/or dimstate of one or more lights. In some instances, smart wall switches 108may also control a power state or speed of a fan, such as a ceiling fan.The smart wall plugs 110 may detect occupancy of a room or enclosure andcontrol supply of power to one or more wall plugs (e.g., such that poweris not supplied to the plug if nobody is at home).

Still further, in some embodiments, the smart-home environment 100 ofFIG. 1 includes a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected appliances 112 (herein after referred to as “smartappliances 112”), such as refrigerators, stoves and/or ovens,televisions, washers, dryers, lights, stereos, intercom systems,garage-door openers, floor fans, ceiling fans, wall air conditioners,pool heaters, irrigation systems, security systems, and on forth.According to embodiments, the network-connected appliances 112 are madecompatible with the smart-home environment by cooperating with therespective manufacturers of the appliances. For example, the appliancescan be space heaters, window AC unites, motorized duct vents, etc. Whenplugged in, an appliance can announce itself to the smart-home network,such as by indicating what type of appliance it is, and it canautomatically integrate with the controls of the smart-home. Suchcommunication by the appliance to the smart home can be facilitated byany wired or wireless communication protocols known by those havingordinary skill in the art. The smart home also can include a variety ofnon-communicating legacy appliances 140, such as old conventionalwasher/dryers, refrigerators, and the like which can be controlled,albeit coarsely (ON/OFF), by virtue of the smart wall plugs 110. Thesmart-home environment 100 can further include a variety of partiallycommunicating legacy appliances 142, such as infrared (“IR”) controlledwall air conditioners or other IR-controlled devices, which can becontrolled by IR signals provided by the smart hazard detectors 104 orthe smart wall switches 108.

According to embodiments, the smart thermostats 102, the smart hazarddetectors 104, the smart doorbells 106, the smart wall switches 108, thesmart wall plugs 110, and other devices of the smart-home environment100 are modular and can be incorporated into older and new houses. Forexample, the devices are designed around a modular platform consistingof two basic components: a head unit and a back plate, which is alsoreferred to as a docking station. Multiple configurations of the dockingstation are provided so as to be compatible with any home, such as olderand newer homes. However, all of the docking stations include a standardhead-connection arrangement, such that any head unit can be removablyattached to any docking station. Thus, in some embodiments, the dockingstations are interfaces that serve as physical connections to thestructure and the voltage wiring of the homes, and the interchangeablehead units contain all of the sensors, processors, user interfaces, thebatteries, and other functional components of the devices.

Many different commercial and functional possibilities for provisioning,maintenance, and upgrade are possible. For example, after years of usingany particular head unit, a user will be able to buy a new version ofthe head unit and simply plug it into the old docking station. There arealso many different versions for the head units, such as low-costversions with few features, and then a progression ofincreasingly-capable versions, up to and including extremely fancy headunits with a large number of features. Thus, it should be appreciatedthat the various versions of the head units can all be interchangeable,with any of them working when placed into any docking station. This canadvantageously encourage sharing and re-deployment of old head units—forexample, when an important high-capability head unit, such as a hazarddetector, is replaced by a new version of the head unit, then the oldhead unit can be re-deployed to a backroom or basement, etc. Accordingto embodiments, when first plugged into a docking station, the head unitcan ask the user (by 2D LCD display, 2D/3D holographic projection, voiceinteraction, etc.) a few simple questions such as, “Where am I” and theuser can indicate “living room”, “kitchen” and so forth.

The smart-home environment 100 may also include communication withdevices outside of the physical home but within a proximate geographicalrange of the home. For example, the smart-home environment 100 mayinclude a pool heater monitor 114 that communicates a current pooltemperature to other devices within the smart-home environment 100 orreceives commands for controlling the pool temperature. Similarly, thesmart-home environment 100 may include an irrigation monitor 116 thatcommunicates information regarding irrigation systems within thesmart-home environment 100 and/or receives control information forcontrolling such irrigation systems. According to embodiments, analgorithm is provided for considering the geographic location of thesmart-home environment 100, such as based on the zip code or geographiccoordinates of the home. The geographic information is then used toobtain data helpful for determining optimal times for watering, suchdata may include sun location information, temperature, due point, soiltype of the land on which the home is located, etc.

By virtue of network connectivity, one or more of the smart-home devicesof FIG. 1 can further allow a user to interact with the device even ifthe user is not proximate to the device. For example, a user cancommunicate with a device using a computer (e.g., a desktop computer,laptop computer, or tablet) or other portable electronic device (e.g., asmartphone) 166. A webpage or app can be configured to receivecommunications from the user and control the device based on thecommunications and/or to present information about the device'soperation to the user. For example, the user can view a current setpointtemperature for a device and adjust it using a computer. The user can bein the structure during this remote communication or outside thestructure.

As discussed, users can control the smart thermostat and other smartdevices in the smart-home environment 100 using a network-connectedcomputer or portable electronic device 166. In some examples, some orall of the occupants (e.g., individuals who live in the home) canregister their device 166 with the smart-home environment 100. Suchregistration can be made at a central server to authenticate theoccupant and/or the device as being associated with the home and to givepermission to the occupant to use the device to control the smartdevices in the home. An occupant can use their registered device 166 toremotely control the smart devices of the home, such as when theoccupant is at work or on vacation. The occupant may also use theirregistered device to control the smart devices when the occupant isactually located inside the home, such as when the occupant sitting on acouch inside the home. It should be appreciated that instead of or inaddition to registering devices 166, the smart-home environment 100makes inferences about which individuals live in the home and aretherefore occupants and which devices 166 are associated with thoseindividuals. As such, the smart-home environment “learns” who is anoccupant and permits the devices 166 associated with those individualsto control the smart devices of the home.

In some instances, guests desire to control the smart devices. Forexample, the smart-home environment may receive communication from anunregistered mobile device of an individual inside of the home, wheresaid individual is not recognized as an occupant of the home. Further,for example, smart-home environment may receive communication from amobile device of an individual who is known to be or who is registeredas a guest.

According to embodiments, a guest-layer of controls can be provided toguests of the smart-home environment 100. The guest-layer of controlsgives guests access to basic controls (e.g., a judicially selectedsubset of features of the smart devices), such as temperatureadjustments, but it locks out other functionalities. The guest layer ofcontrols can be thought of as a “safe sandbox” in which guests havelimited controls, but they do not have access to more advanced controlsthat could fundamentally alter, undermine, damage, or otherwise impairthe occupant-desired operation of the smart devices. For example, theguest layer of controls won't permit the guest to adjust the heat-pumplockout temperature.

A use case example of this is when a guest in a smart home, the guestcould walk up to the thermostat and turn the dial manually, but theguest may not want to walk the house “hunting” the thermostat,especially at night while the home is dark and others are sleeping.Further, the guest may not want to go through the hassle of downloadingthe necessary application to their device for remotely controlling thethermostat. In fact, the guest may not have to the home owner's logincredentials, etc., and therefore cannot remotely control the thermostatvia such an application. Accordingly, according to embodiments of theinvention, the guest can open a mobile browser on their mobile device,type a keyword, such as “NEST” into the URL field and tap “Go” or“Search”, etc. In response the device presents with guest with a userinterface, which allows the guest to move the target temperature betweena limited range, such as 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As discussed, theuser interface provides a guest layer of controls that are limited tobasic functions. The guest cannot change the target humidity, modes, orview energy history.

According to embodiments, to enable guests to access the user interfacethat provides the guest layer of controls, a local webserver is providedthat is accessible in the local area network (LAN). It does not requirea password, because physical presence inside the home is establishedreliably enough by the guest's presence on the LAN. In some embodiments,during installation of the smart device, such as the smart thermostat,the home owner is asked if they want to enable a Local Web App (LWA) onthe smart device. Business owners will likely say no; home owners willlikely say yes. When the LWA option is selected, the smart devicebroadcasts to the LAN that the above referenced keyword, such as “NEST”,is now a host alias for its local web server. Thus, no matter whose homea guest goes to, that same keyword (e.g., “NEST” is always the URI youuse to access the LWA, provided the smart device is purchased from thesame manufacturer. Further, according to embodiments, if there is morethan one smart device on the LAN, the second and subsequent smartdevices do not offer to set up another LWA. Instead, they registerthemselves as target candidates with the master LWA. And in this casethe LWA user would be asked which smart device they want to change thetemperature on before getting the simplified user interface for theparticular smart device they choose.

According to embodiments, a guest layer of controls may also be providedto users by means other than a device 166. For example, the smartdevice, such as the smart thermostat, may be equipped withwalkup-identification technology (e.g., face recognition, RFID,ultrasonic sensors) that “fingerprints” or creates a “signature” for theoccupants of the home. The walkup-identification technology can be thesame as or similar to the fingerprinting and signature creatingtechniques descripted in other sections of this application. Inoperation, when a person who does not live in the home or is otherwisenot registered with or whose fingerprint or signature is not recognizedby the smart home “walks up” to a smart device, the smart devicesprovides the guest with the guest layer of controls, rather than fullcontrols.

As described below, the smart thermostat and other smart devices “learn”by observing occupant behavior. For example, the smart thermostat learnsoccupants preferred temperature set-points for mornings and evenings,and it learns when the occupants are asleep or awake, as well as whenthe occupants are typically away or at home, for example. According toembodiments, when a guest controls the smart devices, such as the smartthermostat, the smart devices do not “learn” from the guest. Thisprevents the guest's adjustments and controls from affecting the learnedpreferences of the occupants.

According to some embodiments, a smart television remote control isprovided. The smart remote control recognizes occupants by thumbprint,visual identification, RFID, etc., and it recognizes users as guests oras someone belonging to a particular class having limited control andaccess (e.g., child). Upon recognizing the user as a guest or someonebelonging to a limited class, the smart remote control only permits thatuser to view a subset of channels and to make limited adjustments to thesettings of the television and other devices. For example, a guestcannot adjust the digital video recorder (DVR) settings, and a child islimited to viewing child-appropriate programming.

According to some embodiments, similar controls are provided for otherinstruments, utilities, and devices in the house. For example, sinks,bathtubs, and showers can be controlled by smart spigots that recognizeusers as guests or as children and therefore prevents water fromexceeding a designated temperature that is considered safe.

In some embodiments, in addition to containing processing and sensingcapabilities, each of the devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and116 (collectively referred to as “the smart devices”) is capable of datacommunications and information sharing with any other of the smartdevices, as well as to any central server or cloud-computing system orany other device that is network-connected anywhere in the world. Therequired data communications can be carried out using any of a varietyof custom or standard wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, etc.)and/or any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (CAT6Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.)

According to embodiments, all or some of the smart devices can serve aswireless or wired repeaters. For example, a first one of the smartdevices can communicate with a second one of the smart device via awireless router 160. The smart devices can further communicate with eachother via a connection to a network, such as the Internet 162. Throughthe Internet 162, the smart devices can communicate with a centralserver or a cloud-computing system 164. The central server orcloud-computing system 164 can be associated with a manufacturer,support entity, or service provider associated with the device. For oneembodiment, a user may be able to contact customer support using adevice itself rather than needing to use other communication means suchas a telephone or, Internet-connected computer. Further, softwareupdates can be automatically sent from the central server orcloud-computing system 164 to devices (e.g., when available, whenpurchased, or at routine intervals).

According to embodiments, the smart devices combine to create a meshnetwork of spokesman and low-power nodes in the smart-home environment100, where some of the smart devices are “spokesman” nodes and othersare “low-powered” nodes. Some of the smart devices in the smart-homeenvironment 100 are battery powered, while others have a regular andreliable power source, such as by connecting to wiring (e.g., to 120Vline voltage wires) behind the walls 154 of the smart-home environment.The smart devices that have a regular and reliable power source arereferred to as “spokesman” nodes. These nodes are equipped with thecapability of using any wireless protocol or manner to facilitatebidirectional communication with any of a variety of other devices inthe smart-home environment 100 as well as with the central server orcloud-computing system 164. On the other hand, the devices that arebattery powered are referred to as “low-power” nodes. These nodes tendto be smaller than spokesman nodes and can only communicate usingwireless protocol that requires very little power, such as Zigbee,6LoWPAN, etc. Further, some, but not all, low-power nodes are incapableof bidirectional communication. These low-power nodes send messages, butthey are unable to “listen”. Thus, other devices in the smart-homeenvironment 100, such as the spokesman nodes, cannot send information tothese low-power nodes.

As described, the smart devices serve as low-power and spokesman nodesto create a mesh network in the smart-home environment 100. Individuallow-power nodes in the smart-home environment regularly send outmessages regarding what they are sensing, and the other low-powerednodes in the smart-home environment—in addition to sending out their ownmessages—repeat the messages, thereby causing the messages to travelfrom node to node (i.e., device to device) throughout the smart-homeenvironment 100. The spokesman nodes in the smart-home environment 100are able to “drop down” to low-powered communication protocols toreceive these messages, translate the messages to other communicationprotocols, and send the translated messages to other spokesman nodesand/or the central server or cloud-computing system 164. Thus, thelow-powered nodes using low-power communication protocols are able sendmessages across the entire smart-home environment 100 as well as overthe Internet 162 to the central server or cloud-computing system 164.According to embodiments, the mesh network enables the central server orcloud-computing system 164 regularly receive data from all of the smartdevices in the home, make inferences based on the data, and sendcommands back to individual one of the smart devices to accomplish someof the smart-home objectives described herein.

As described, the spokesman nodes and some of the low-powered nodes arecapable of “listening”. Accordingly, users, other devices, and thecentral server or cloud-computing system 164 can communicate controls tothe low-powered nodes. For example, a user can use the portableelectronic device (e.g., a smartphone) 166 to send commands over theInternet to the central server or cloud-computing system 164, which thenrelays the commands to the spokesman nodes in the smart-home environment100. The spokesman nodes drop down to a low-power protocol tocommunicate the commands to the low-power nodes throughout thesmart-home environment, as well as to other spokesman nodes that did notreceive the commands directly from the central server or cloud-computingsystem 164.

An example of a low-power node is a smart nightlight 170. In addition tohousing a light source, the smart nightlight 170 houses an occupancysensor, such as an ultrasonic or passive IR sensor, and an ambient lightsensor, such as a photoresistor or a single-pixel sensor that measureslight in the room. In some embodiments, the smart nightlight 170 isconfigured to activate the light source when its ambient light sensordetects that the room is dark and when its occupancy sensor detects thatsomeone is in the room. In other embodiments, the smart nightlight 170is simply configured to activate the light source when its ambient lightsensor detects that the room is dark. Further, according to embodiments,the smart nightlight 170 includes a low-power wireless communicationchip (e.g., ZigBee chip) that regularly sends out messages regarding theoccupancy of the room and the amount of light in the room, includinginstantaneous messages coincident with the occupancy sensor detectingthe presence of a person in the room. As mentioned above, these messagesmay be sent wirelessly, using the mesh network, from node to node smartdevice to smart device) within the smart-home environment 100 as well asover the Internet 162 to the central server or cloud-computing system164.

Other examples of low-powered nodes include battery-operated versions ofthe smart hazard detectors 104. These smart hazard detectors 104 areoften located in an area without access to constant and reliable powerand, as discussed in detail below, may include any number and type ofsensors, such as smoke/fire/heat sensors, carbon monoxide/dioxidesensors, occupancy/motion sensors, ambient light sensors, temperaturesensors, humidity sensors, and the like. Furthermore, smart hazarddetectors 104 can send messages that correspond to each of therespective sensors to the other devices and the central server orcloud-computing system 164, such as by using the mesh network asdescribed above.

Examples of spokesman nodes include smart doorbells 106, smartthermostats 102, smart wall switches 108, and smart wall plugs 110.These devices 102, 106, 108, and 110 are often located near andconnected to a reliable power source, and therefore can include morepower-consuming components, such as one or more communication chipscapable of bidirectional communication in any variety of protocols.

In some embodiments, these low-powered and spokesman nodes (e.g.,devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 170) can function as“tripwires” for an alarm system in the smart-home environment. Forexample, in the event a perpetrator circumvents detection by alarmsensors located at windows, doors, and other entry points of thesmart-home environment 100, the alarm could be triggered upon receivingan occupancy, motion, heat, sound, etc. message from one or more of thelow-powered and spokesman nodes in the mesh network. For example, uponreceiving a message from a smart nightlight 170 indicating the presenceof a person, the central server or cloud-computing system 164 or someother device could trigger an alarm, provided the alarm is armed at thetime of detection. Thus, the alarm system could be enhanced by variouslow-powered and spokesman nodes located throughout the smart-homeenvironment 100. In this example, a user could enhance the security ofthe smart-home environment 100 by buying and installing extra smartnightlights 170.

In some embodiments, the mesh network can be used to automatically turnon and off lights as a person transitions from room to room. Forexample, the low-powered and spokesman nodes (e.g., devices 102, 104,106, 108, 110, 112, and 170) detect the person's movement through thesmart-home environment and communicate corresponding messages throughthe mesh network. Using the messages that indicate which rooms areoccupied, the central server or cloud-computing system 164 or some otherdevice activates and deactivates the smart wall switches 108 toautomatically provide light as the person moves from room to room in thesmart-home environment 100. Further, users may provide pre-configurationinformation that indicates which smart wall plugs 110 provide power tolamps and other light sources, such as the smart nightlight 170.Alternatively, this mapping of light sources to wall plugs 110 can bedone automatically (e.g., the smart wall plugs 110 detect when a lightsource is plugged into it, and it sends a corresponding message to thecentral server or cloud-computing system 164). Using this mappinginformation in combination with messages that indicate which rooms areoccupied, the central server or cloud-computing system 164 or some otherdevice activates and deactivates the smart wall plugs 110 that providepower to lamps and other light sources an as to track the person'smovement and provide light as the person moves from room to room.

In some embodiments, the mesh network of low-powered and spokesman nodescan be used to provide exit lighting in the event of an emergency. Insome instances, to facilitate this, users provide pre-configurationinformation that indicates exit routes in the smart-home environment100. For example, for each room in the house, the user provides a map ofthe best exit route. It should be appreciated that instead of a userproviding this information, the central server or cloud-computing system164 or some other device could the automatically determine the routesusing uploaded maps, diagrams, architectural drawings of the smart-homehouse, as well as using a map generated based on positional informationobtained from the nodes of the mesh network (e.g., positionalinformation from the devices is used to construct a map of the house).In operation, when an alarm is activated (e.g., when one or more of thesmart hazard detector 104 detects smoke and activates an alarm), thecentral server or cloud-computing system 164 or some other device usesoccupancy information obtained from the low-powered and spokesman nodesto determine which rooms are occupied and then turns on lights (e.g.,nightlights 170, wall switches 108, wall plugs 110 that power lamps,etc.) along the exit routes from the occupied rooms so as to provideemergency exit lighting.

Further included and illustrated in the exemplary smart-home environment100 of FIG. 1 are service robots 162 each configured to carry out, in anautonomous manner, any of a variety of household tasks. For someembodiments, the service robots 162 can be respectively configured toperform floor sweeping, floor washing, etc. in a manner similar to thatof known commercially available devices such as the ROOMBA™ and SCOOBA™products sold by iRobot, Inc. of Bedford, Mass. Tasks such as floorsweeping and floor washing can be considered as “away” or “while-away”tasks for purposes of the instant description, as it is generally moredesirable for these tasks to be performed when the occupants are notpresent. For other embodiments, one or more of the service robots 162are configured to perform tasks such as playing music for an occupant,serving as a localized thermostat for an occupant, serving as alocalized air monitor/purifier for an occupant, serving as a localizedbaby monitor, serving as a localized multi-sensing hazard detector foran occupant, and so forth, it being generally more desirable for suchtasks to be carried out in the immediate presence of the human occupant.For purposes of the instant description, such tasks can be considered as“human-facing” or “human-centric” tasks.

When serving as a localized thermostat for an occupant, a particular oneof the service robots 162 can be considered to be facilitating what canbe called a “personal comfort-area network” for the occupant, with theobjective being to keep the occupant's immediate space at a comfortabletemperature wherever that occupant may be located in the home. This canbe contrasted with conventional wall-mounted room thermostats, whichhave the more attenuated objective of keeping a statically-definedstructural space at a comfortable temperature. According to oneembodiment, the localized-thermostat service robot 162 is configured tomove itself into the immediate presence (e.g., within five feet) of aparticular occupant who has settled into a particular location in thehome (e.g. in the dining room to eat their breakfast and read the news).The localized-thermostat service robot 162 includes a temperaturesensor, a processor, and wireless communication components configuredsuch that control communications with the HVAC system, either directlyor through a wall-mounted wirelessly communicating thermostat coupled tothe HVAC system, are maintained and such that the temperature in theimmediate vicinity of the occupant is maintained at their desired level.If the occupant then moves and settles into another location (e.g. tothe living room couch to watch television), the localized-thermostatservice robot 162 proceeds to move and park itself next to the couch andkeep that particular immediate space at a comfortable temperature.

Technologies by which the localized-thermostat service robot 162 (and/orthe larger smart-home system of FIG. 1) can identify and locate theoccupant whose personal-area space is to be kept at a comfortabletemperature can include, but are not limited to, sensing (e.g., personhaving an RFID bracelet, RFID necklace, or RFID key fob), syntheticvision techniques (e.g., video cameras and face recognition processors),audio techniques (e.g., voice, sound pattern, vibration patternrecognition), ultrasound sensing/imaging techniques, and infrared ornear-field communication (NFC) techniques (e.g., person wearing aninfrared or NFC-capable smartphone), along with rules-based inferenceengines or artificial intelligence techniques that draw usefulconclusions from the sensed information (e.g., if there is only a singleoccupant present in the home, then that is the person whose immediatespace should be kept at a comfortable temperature, and the selection ofthe desired comfortable temperature should correspond to that occupant'sparticular stored profile).

When serving as a localized air monitor/purifier for an occupant, aparticular service robot 162 can be considered to be facilitating whatcan be called a “personal health-area network” for the occupant, withthe objective being to keep the air quality in the occupant's immediatespace at healthy levels. Alternatively or in conjunction therewith,other health-related functions can be provided, such as monitoring thetemperature or heart rate of the occupant (e.g., using finely remotesensors, near-field communication with on-person monitors, etc.). Whenserving as a localized multi-sensing hazard detector for an occupant, aparticular service robot 162 can be considered to be facilitating whatcan be called a “personal safety-area network” for the occupant, withthe objective being to ensure there is no excessive carbon monoxide,smoke, fire, etc., in the immediate space of the occupant. Methodsanalogous to those described above for personal comfort-area networks interms of occupant identifying and tracking are likewise applicable forpersonal health-area network and personal safety-area networkembodiments.

According to some embodiments, the above-referenced facilitation ofpersonal comfort-area networks, personal health-area networks, personalsafety-area networks, and/or other such human-facing functionalities ofthe service robots 162, are further enhanced by logical integration withother smart sensors in the home according to rules-based inferencingtechniques or artificial intelligence techniques for achieving betterperformance of those human-facing functionalities and/or for achievingthose goals in energy-conserving or other resource-conserving ways.Thus, for one embodiment relating to personal health-area networks, theair monitor/purifier service robot 162 can be configured to detectwhether a household pet is moving toward the currently settled locationof the occupant (e.g., using on-board sensors and/or by datacommunications with other smart-home sensors along with rules-basedinferencing/artificial intelligence techniques), and if so, the airpurifying rate is immediately increased in preparation for the arrivalof more airborne pet dander. For another embodiment relating to personalsafety-area networks, the hazard detector service robot 162 can beadvised by other smart-home sensors that the temperature and humiditylevels are rising in the kitchen, which is nearby to the occupant'scurrent dining room location, and responsive to this advisory the hazarddetector service robot 162 will temporarily raise a hazard detectionthreshold, such as a smoke detection threshold, under an inference thatany small increases in ambient smoke levels will most likely be due tocooking activity and not due to a genuinely hazardous condition.

The above-described “human-facing” and “away” functionalities can beprovided, without limitation, by multiple distinct service robots 162having respective dedicated ones of such functionalities, by a singleservice robot 162 having an integration of two or more different ones ofsuch functionalities, and/or any combinations thereof (including theability for a single service robot 162 to have both “away” and “humanfacing” functionalities) without departing from the scope of the presentteachings. Electrical power can be provided by virtue of rechargeablebatteries or other rechargeable methods, with FIG. 1 illustrating anexemplary out-of-the-way docking station 164 to which the service robots162 will automatically dock and recharge its batteries (if needed)during periods of inactivity. Preferably, each service robot 162includes wireless communication components that facilitate datacommunications with one or more of the other wirelessly communicatingsmart-home sensors of FIG. 1 and/or with one or more other servicerobots 162 (e.g., using Zigbee, Z-Wave, 6LoWPAN, etc.), and one or moreof the smart-home devices of FIG. 1 can be in communication with aremote server over the Internet. Alternatively or in conjunctiontherewith, each service robot 162 can be configured to communicatedirectly with a remote server by virtue of cellular telephonecommunications, satellite communications, 3G/4G network datacommunications, or other direct communication method.

Provided according to some embodiments are systems and methods relatingto the integration of the service robot(s) 162 with home securitysensors and related functionalities of the smart home system. Theembodiments are particularly applicable and advantageous when appliedfor those service robots 162 that perform “away” functionalities or thatotherwise are desirable to be active when the home is unoccupied(hereinafter “away-service robots”). Included in the embodiments aremethods and systems for ensuring that home security systems, intrusiondetection systems, and/or occupancy-sensitive environmental controlsystems (for example, occupancy-sensitive automated setback thermostatsthat enter into a lower-energy-using condition when the home isunoccupied) are not erroneously triggered by the away-service robots.

Provided according to one embodiment is a home automation and securitysystem (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1) that is remotely monitored by amonitoring service by virtue of automated systems (e.g., cloud-basedservers or other central servers, hereinafter “central server”) that arein data communications with one or more network-connected elements ofthe home automation and security system. The away-service robots areconfigured to be in operative data communication with the centralserver, and are configured such that they remain in a non-away-servicestate (e.g., a dormant state at their docking station) unless permissionis granted from the central server (e.g., by virtue of an“away-service-OK” message from the central server) to commence theiraway-service activities. An away-state determination made by the system,which can be arrived at (i) exclusively by local on-premises smartdevice(s) based on occupancy sensor data, (ii) exclusively by thecentral server based on received occupancy sensor data and/or based onreceived proximity-related information such as GPS coordinates from usersmartphones or automobiles, or (iii) any combination of (i) and (ii))can then trigger the granting of away-service permission to theaway-service robots by the central server. During the course of theaway-service robot activity, during which the away-service robots maycontinuously detect and send their in-home location coordinates to thecentral server, the central server can readily filter signals from theoccupancy sensing devices to distinguish between the away-service robotactivity versus any unexpected intrusion activity, thereby avoiding afalse intrusion alarm condition while also ensuring that the home issecure. Alternatively or in conjunction therewith, the central servermay provide filtering data (such as an expected occupancy-sensingprofile triggered by the away-service robots) to the occupancy sensingnodes or associated processing nodes of the smart home, such that thefiltering is performed at the local level. Although somewhat lesssecure, it would also be within the scope of the present teachings forthe central server to temporarily disable the occupancy sensingequipment for the duration of the away-service robot activity.

According to another embodiment, functionality similar to that of thecentral server in the above example can be performed by an on-sitecomputing device such as a dedicated server computer, a “master” homeautomation console or panel, or as an adjunct function of one or more ofthe smart-home devices of FIG. 1. In such embodiment, there would be nodependency on a remote service provider to provide the “away-service-OK”permission to the away-service robots and the false-alarm-avoidancefiltering service or filter information for the sensed intrusiondetection signals.

According to other embodiments, there are provided methods and systemsfor implementing away-service robot functionality while avoiding falsehome security alarms and false occupancy-sensitive environmentalcontrols without the requirement of a single overall event orchestrator.For purposes of the simplicity in the present disclosure, the homesecurity systems and/or occupancy-sensitive environmental controls thatwould be triggered by the motion, noise, vibrations, or otherdisturbances of the away-service robot activity are referenced simply as“activity sensing systems,” and when so triggered will yield a“disturbance-detected” outcome representative of the false trigger (forexample, an alarm message to a security service, or an “arrival”determination for an automated setback thermostat that causes the hometo be heated or cooled to a more comfortable “occupied” setpointtemperature). According to one embodiment, the away-service robots areconfigured to emit a standard ultrasonic sound throughout the course oftheir away-service activity, the activity sensing systems are configuredto detect that standard ultrasonic sound, and the activity sensingsystems are further configured such that no disturbance-detected outcomewill occur for as long as that standard ultrasonic sound is detected.For other embodiments, the away-service robots are configured to emit astandard notification signal throughout the course of their away-serviceactivity, the activity sensing systems are configured to detect thatstandard notification signal, and the activity sensing systems arefurther configured such that no disturbance-detected outcome will occurfor as long as that standard notification signal is detected, whereinthe standard notification signal comprises one or more of: an opticalnotifying signal; an audible notifying signal; an infrared notifyingsignal; an infrasonic notifying signal; a wirelessly transmitted datanotification signal (e.g., an IP broadcast, multicast, or unicastnotification signal, or a notification message sent in an TCP/IP two-waycommunication session).

According to some embodiments, the notification signals sent by theaway-service robots to the activity sensing systems are authenticatedand encrypted such that the notifications cannot be learned andreplicated by a potential burglar. Any of a variety of knownencryption/authentication schemes can be used to ensure such datasecurity including, but not limited to, methods involving third partydata security services or certificate authorities. For some embodiments,a permission request-response model can be used, wherein any particularaway-service robot requests permission from each activity sensing systemin the home when it is ready to perform its away-service tasks, and doesnot initiate such activity until receiving a “yes” or “permissiongranted” message from each activity sensing system (or from a singleactivity sensing system serving as a “spokesman” for all of the activitysensing systems). One advantage of the described embodiments that do notrequire a central event orchestrator is that there can (optionally) bemore of an arms-length relationship between the supplier(s) of the homesecurity/environmental control equipment, on the one hand, and thesupplier(s) of the away-service robot(s), on the other hand, as it isonly required that there is the described standard one-way notificationprotocol or the described standard two-way request/permission protocolto be agreed upon by the respective suppliers.

According to still other embodiments, the activity sensing systems areconfigured to detect sounds, vibrations, RF emissions, or otherdetectable environmental signals or “signatures” that are intrinsicallyassociated with the away-service activity of each away-service robot,and are further configured such that no disturbance-detected outcomewill occur for as long as that particular detectable signal orenvironmental “signature” is detected. By way of example, a particularkind of vacuum-cleaning away-service robot may emit a specific sound orRF signature. For one embodiment, the away-service environmentalsignatures for each of a plurality of known away-service robots arestored in the memory of the activity sensing systems based onempirically collected data, the environmental signatures being suppliedwith the activity sensing systems and periodically updated by a remoteupdate server. For another embodiment, the activity sensing systems canbe placed into a “training mode” for the particular home in which theyare installed, wherein they “listen” and “learn” the particularenvironmental signatures of the away-service robots for that home duringthat training session, and thereafter will suppress disturbance-detectedoutcomes for intervals in which those environmental signatures areheard.

For still another embodiment, which is particularly useful when theactivity sensing system is associated with occupancy-sensitiveenvironmental control equipment rather than a home security system, theactivity sensing system is configured to automatically learn theenvironmental signatures for the away-service robots by virtue ofautomatically performing correlations over time between detectedenvironmental signatures and detected occupancy activity. By way ofexample, for one embodiment an intelligent automatednonoccupancy-triggered setback thermostat such as the Nest LearningThermostat can be configured to constantly monitor for audible and RFactivity as well as to perform infrared-based occupancy detection. Inparticular view of the fact that the environmental signature of theaway-service robot will remain relatively constant from event to event,and in view of the fact that the away-service events will likely either(a) themselves be triggered by some sort of nonoccupancy condition asmeasured by the away-service robots themselves, or (b) will occur atregular times of day, there will be patterns in the collected data bywhich the events themselves will become apparent and for which theenvironmental signatures can be readily learned. Generally speaking, forthis automatic-learning embodiment in which the environmental signaturesof the away-service robots are automatically learned without requiringuser interaction, it is more preferable that a certain number of falsetriggers be tolerable over the course of the learning processAccordingly, this automatic-learning embodiment is more preferable forapplication in occupancy-sensitive environmental control equipment (suchas an automated setback thermostat) rather than home security systemsfor the reason that a few false occupancy determinations may cause a fewinstances of unnecessary heating or cooling, but will not otherwise haveany serious, whereas false home security alarms may have more seriousconsequences.

According to embodiments, technologies including the sensors of thesmart devices located in the mesh network of the smart-home environmentin combination with rules-based inference engines or artificialintelligence provided at the central server or cloud-computing system164 are used to provide a personal “smart alarm clock” for individualoccupants of the home. For example, user-occupants can communicate withthe central server or cloud-computing system 164 via their mobiledevices 166 to access an interface for the smart alarm clock. There,occupants can turn on their “smart alarm clock” and input a wake timefor the next day and/or for additional days. In some embodiments, theoccupant may have the option of setting a specific wake time for eachday of the week, as well as the option of setting some or all of theinputted wake times to “repeat”. Artificial intelligence will be used toconsider the occupant's response to these alarms when they go off andmake inferences about the user's preferred sleep patterns over time.

According to embodiments, the smart device in the smart-home environment100 that happens to be closest to the occupant when the occupant fallsasleep will be the devices that transmits messages regarding when theoccupant stopped moving, from which the central server orcloud-computing system 164 will make inferences about where and when theoccupant prefers to sleep. This closest smart device will as be thedevice that sounds the alarm to wake the occupant. In this manner, the“smart alarm clock” will follow the occupant throughout the house, bytracking the individual occupants based on their “unique signature”,which is determined based on data obtained from sensors located in thesmart devices. For example, the sensors include ultrasonic sensors,passive IR sensors, and the like. The unique signature is based on acombination of walking gate, patterns of movement, voice, height, size,etc. It should be appreciated that facial recognition may also be used.

According to an embodiment, the wake times associated with the “smartalarm clock” are used to by the smart thermostat 102 to control the HVACin an efficient manner so as to pre-heat or cool the house to theoccupant's desired “sleeping” and “awake” temperature settings. Thepreferred settings can be learned over time, such as be observing whichtemperature the occupant sets the thermostat to before going to sleepand which temperature the occupant sets the thermostat to upon wakingup.

According to an embodiment, a device is positioned proximate to theoccupant's bed, such as on an adjacent nightstand, and collects data asthe occupant sleeps using noise sensors, motion sensors (e.g.,ultrasonic, IR, and optical), etc. Data may be obtained by the othersmart devices in the room as well. Such data may include the occupant'sbreathing patterns, heart rate, movement, etc. Inferences are made basedon this data in combination with data that indicates when the occupantactually wakes up. For example, if—on a regular basis—the occupant'sheart rate, breathing, and moving all increase by 5% to 10%, twenty tothirty minutes before the occupant wakes up each morning, thenpredictions can be made regarding when the occupant is going to wake.Other devices in the home can use these predictions to provide othersmart-home objectives, such as adjusting the smart thermostat 102 so asto pre-heat or cool the home to the occupant's desired setting beforethe occupant wakes up. Further, these predictions can be used to set the“smart alarm clock” for the occupant, to turn on lights, etc.

According to embodiments, technologies including the sensors of thesmart devices location through the smart-home environment in combinationwith rules-based inference engines or artificial intelligence providedat the central server or cloud-computing system 164 are used to detector monitor the progress of Alzheimer's Disease. For example, the uniquesignatures of the occupants are used to track the individual occupants'movement throughout the smart-home environment 100. This data can beaggregated and analyzed to identify patterns indicative of Alzheimer's.Oftentimes, individuals with Alzheimer's have distinctive patterns ofmigration in their homes. For example, a person will walk to the kitchenand stand there for a while, then to the living room and stand there fora while, and then back to the kitchen. This pattern will take aboutthirty minutes, and then the person will repeat the pattern. Accordingto embodiments, the remote servers or cloud computing architectures 164analyze the person's migration data collected by the mesh network of thesmart-home environment to identify such patterns.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible devices andservices platform 200 with which a plurality of smart-home environments,such as the smart-home environment 100 of FIG. 1, can be integrated. Theextensible devices and services platform 200 includes remote servers orcloud computing architectures 164. Each of the intelligent,network-connected devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116from FIG. 1 (identified simply as “smart devices” in FIGS. 2-3 herein)can communicate with the remote servers or cloud computing architectures164. For example, a connection to the Internet 162 can be establishedeither directly (for example, using 3G/4G connectivity to a wirelesscarrier), though a hubbed network 212 (which can be scheme ranging froma simple wireless router, for example, up to and including anintelligent, dedicated whole-home control node), or through anycombination thereof.

Although in some examples provided herein, the devices and servicesplatform 200 communicates with and collects data from the smart devicesof smart-home environment 100 of FIG. 1, it should be appreciated thatthe devices and services platform 200 communicates with and collectsdata from a plurality of smart-home environments across the world. Forexample, the central server or cloud-computing system 164 can collecthome data 202 from the devices of one or more smart-home environments,where the devices can routinely transmit home data or can transmit homedata in specific instances (e.g., when a device queries the home data202). Thus, the devices and services platform 200 routinely collectsdata from homes across the world. As described, the collected home data202 includes, for example, power consumption data, occupancy data, HVACsettings and usage data, carbon monoxide levels data, carbon dioxidelevels data, volatile organic compounds levels data, sleeping scheduledata, cooking schedule data, inside and outside temperature humiditydata, television viewership data, inside and outside noise level data,etc.

The central server or cloud-computing architecture 164 can furtherprovide one or more services 204. The services 204 can include, e.g.,software updates, customer support, sensor data collection/logging,remote access, remote or distributed control, or use suggestions (e.g.,based on collected home data 202 to improve performance, reduce utilitycost, etc.). Data associated with the services 204 can be stored at thecentral server or cloud-computing system 164 and the central server orthe cloud-computing system 164 can retrieve and transmit the data at anappropriate time e.g., at regular intervals, upon receiving request froma user, etc.).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an embodiment of the extensible devices andservices platform 200 includes a processing engine 206, which can beconcentrated at a single server or distributed among several differentcomputing entities without limitation. The processing engine 206 caninclude engines configured to receive data from devices of smart-homeenvironments (e.g., via the Internet or a hubbed network), to index thedata, to analyze the data and/or to generate statistics based on theanalysis or as part of the analysis. The analyzed data can be stored asderived home data 208.

Results of the analysis or statistics can thereafter be transmitted backto the device that provided home data used to derive the results, toother devices, to a server providing a webpage to a user of the device,or to other non-device entities. For example, use statistics, usestatistics relative to use of other devices, use patterns, and/orstatistics summarizing sensor readings can be generated by theprocessing engine 206 and transmitted. The results or statistics can beprovided via the Internet 162. In this manner, the processing engine 206can be configured and programmed to derive a variety of usefulinformation from the home data 202. A single server can include one ormore engines.

The derived data can be highly beneficial at a variety of differentgranularities for a variety of useful purposes, ranging from explicitprogrammed control of the devices on a per-home, per-neighborhood, orper-region basis (for example, demand-response programs for electricalutilities), to the generation of infrerential abstractions that canassist on a per-home basis (for example, an inference can be drawn thatthe homeowner has left for vacation and so security detection equipmentcan be put on heightened sensitivity), to the generation of statisticsand associated inferential abstractions that can be used for governmentor charitable purposes. For example, processing engine 206 can generatestatistics about device usage across a population of devices and sendthe statistics to device users, service providers or other entities(e.g., that have requested or may have provided monetary compensationfor the statistics).

According to some embodiments, the home data 202, the derived home data208, and/or another data can be used to create “automated neighborhoodsafety networks.” For example, in the event the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 receives data indicating that aparticular home has been broken into, is experiencing a fire, or someother type of emergency event, an alarm is sent to other smart homes inthe “neighborhood.” In some instances, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 automatically identifies smart homeswithin a radius of the home experiencing the emergency and sends analarm to the identified homes. In such instances, the other homes in the“neighborhood” do not have to sign up for or register to be a part of asafety network, but instead are notified of emergency based on theirproximity to the location of the emergency. This creates robust andevolving neighborhood security watch networks, such that if one person'shome is getting broken into, an alarm can be sent to nearby homes, suchas by audio announcements via the smart devices located in those homes.It should he appreciated that this can be an opt-in service and that inaddition to or instead of the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 selecting which homes to send alerts to, individualscan subscribe to participate in such networks and individuals canspecify which homes they want to receive alerts from. This can include,for example, the homes of family members who live in different cities,such that individuals can receive alerts when their loved ones in otherlocations are experiencing an emergency.

According to some embodiments, sound, vibration, and/or motion sensingcomponents of the smart devices are used to detect sound, vibration,and/or motion created by running water. Based on the detected sound,vibration, and/or motion, the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 makes inferences about water usage in the home andprovides related services. For example, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 can run programs/algorithms thatrecognize what water sounds like and when it is running in the home.According to one embodiment, to map the various water sources of thehome, upon detecting running water, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 sends a message an occupant's mobiledevice asking if water is currently running or if water has beenrecently run in the home and, if so, which room and whichwater-consumption appliance (e.g., sink, shower, toilet, etc.) was thesource of the water. This enables the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 to determine the “signature” or “fingerprint” of eachwater source in the home. This is sometimes referred to herein as “audiofingerprinting water usage.”

In one illustrative example, the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 creates a signature for the toilet in the masterbathroom, and whenever that toilet is flushed, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 will know that the water usage at thattime is associated with that toilet. Thus, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 can track the water usage of thattoilet as well as each water-consumption application in the home. Thisinformation can be correlated to water bills or smart water meters so asto provide users with a breakdown of their water usage.

According to some embodiments, sound, vibration, and/or motion sensingcomponents of the smart devices are used to detect sound, vibration,and/or motion created by mice and other rodents as well as by termites,cockroaches, and other insects (collectively referred to as “pests”).Based on the detected sound, vibration, and/or motion, the centralserver or cloud-computing architecture 164 makes inferences aboutpest-detection in the home and provides related services. For example,the central server or cloud-computing architecture 164 can runprograms/algorithms that recognize what certain pests sound like, howthey move, and/or the vibration they create, individually and/orcollectively. According to one embodiment, the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 can determine the “signatures” ofparticular types of pests.

For example, in the event the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 detects sounds that may be associated with pests, itnotifies the occupants of such sounds and suggests hiring a pest controlcompany. If it is confirmed that pests are indeed present, the occupantsinput to the central server or cloud-computing architecture 164confirmation that its detection was correct, along with detailsregarding the identified pests, such as name, type, description,location, quantity, etc. This enables the central server orcloud-computing architecture 164 to “tune” itself for better detectionand create “signatures” or “fingerprints” for specific types of pests.For example, the central server or cloud-computing architecture 164 canuse the tuning as well as the signatures and fingerprints to detectpests in other homes, such as nearby homes that may be experiencingproblems with the same pests. Further, for example, in the event thattwo or more homes in a “neighborhood” are experiencing problems with thesame or similar types of pests, the central server or cloud-computingarchitecture 164 can make inferences that nearby homes may also havesuch problems or may be susceptible to having such problems, and it cansend warning messages to those home to help facilitate early detectionand prevention.

In some embodiments, to encourage innovation and research and toincrease products and services available to users, the devices andservices platform 200 exposes a range of application programminginterfaces (APIs) 210 to third parties, such as charities 222,governmental entities 224 (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration or theEnvironmental Protection Agency), academic institutions 226 (e.g.,university researchers), businesses 228 (e.g., providing devicewarranties or service to related equipment, targeting advertisementsbased on home data), utility companies 230, and other third parties. TheAPIs 210 are coupled to and permit third-party systems to communicatewith the central server or the cloud-computing system 164, including theservices 204, the processing engine 206, the home data 202, and thederived home data 208. For example, the APIs 210 allow applicationsexecuted by the third parties to initiate specific data processing tasksthat are executed by the central server or the cloud-computing system164, as well as to receive dynamic updates to the home data 202 and thederived home data 208.

For example, third parties can develop programs and/or applications,such as web or mobile apps, that integrate with the central server orthe cloud-computing system 164 to provide services and information tousers. Such programs and application may be, for example, designed tohelp users reduce energy consumption, to preemptively service faultyequipment, to prepare for high service demands, to track past serviceperformance, etc., or to perform any of a variety of beneficialfunctions or tasks now known or hereinafter developed.

According to some embodiments, third-party applications make inferencesfrom the home data 202 and the derived home data 208, such inferencesmay include when are occupants home, when are they sleeping, when arethey cooking, when are they in the den watching television, when do theyshower. The answers to these questions may help third-parties benefitconsumers by providing them with interesting information, products andservices as well as with providing them with targeted advertisements.

In one example, a shipping company creates an application that makesinferences regarding when people are at home. The application uses theinferences to schedule deliveries for times when people will most likelybe at home. The application can also build delivery routes around thesescheduled times. This reduces the number of instances where the shippingcompany has to make multiple attempts to deliver packages, and itreduces the number of time consumers have to pick up their packages fromthe shipping company.

FIG. 3 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the extensibledevices and services platform 200 of FIG. 2, with particular referenceto the processing engine 206 as well as devices, such as those of thesmart-home environment 100 of FIG. 1. Even though devices situated insmart-home environments will have an endless variety of differentindividual capabilities and limitations, they can all be thought of assharing common characteristics in that each of them is a data consumer302 (DC), a data source 304 (DS), a services consumer 306 (SC), and aservices source 308 (SS). Advantageously, in addition to providing theessential control information needed for the devices to achieve theirlocal and immediate objectives, the extensible devices and servicesplatform 200 can also be configured to harness the large amount of datathat is flowing out of these devices. In addition to enhancing oroptimizing the actual operation of the devices themselves with respectto their immediate functions, the extensible devices and servicesplatform 200 can be directed to “repurposing” that data in a variety ofautomated, extensible, flexible, and/or scalable ways to achieve avariety of useful objectives. These objectives may be predefined oradaptively identified based on, e.g., usage patterns, device efficiency,and/or user input (e.g., requesting specific functionality).

For example, FIG. 3 shows processing engine 206 as including a number ofparadigms 310. Processing engine 206 can include a managed servicesparadigm 310 a that monitors and manages primary or secondary devicefunctions. The device functions can include ensuring proper operation ofa device given user inputs, estimating that (e.g., and responding to) anintruder is or is attempting to be in a dwelling, detecting a failure ofequipment coupled to the device (e.g., a light bulb having burned out),implementing or otherwise responding to energy demand response events,or alerting a user of a current or predicted future event orcharacteristic. Processing engine 206 can further include anadvertising/communication paradigm 310 b that estimates characteristics(e.g., demographic information), desires and/or products of interest ofa user based on device usage. Services, promotions, products or upgradescan then be offered or automatically provided to the user. Processingengine 206 can further include a social paradigm 310 c that usesinformation from a social network, provides information to a socialnetwork (for example, based on device usage), and/or processes dataassociated with user and/or device interactions with the social networkplatform. For example, a user's status as reported to their trustedcontacts on the social network could be updated to indicate when theyare home based on light detection, security system inactivation ordevice usage detectors. As another example, a user may be able to sharedevice-usage statistics with other users. Yet another example, a usermay share HVAC settings that result in low power bills and other usersmay download the HVAC settings to their smart thermostat 102 to reducetheir power bills.

The processing engine 206 can include achallenges/rules/compliance/rewards paradigm 310 d that informs a userof challenges, competitions, rules, compliance regulations and/orrewards and/or that uses operation data to determine whether a challengehas been met, a rule or regulation has been complied with and/or areward has been earned. The challenges, rules or regulations can relateto efforts to conserve energy, to live safely (e.g., reducing exposureto toxins or carcinogens), to conserve money and/or equipment life, toimprove health, etc. For example, one challenge may involvesparticipates turning down their thermostat by one degree for one week.Those that successfully complete the challenge are rewarded, such as bycoupons, virtual currency, status, etc. Regarding compliance, an exampleinvolves a rental-property owner making a rule that no renters arepermitted to access certain owner's rooms. The devices in the roomhaving occupancy sensors could send updates to the owner when the roomis accessed.

The processing engine 206 can integrate or otherwise utilize extrinsicinformation 316 from extrinsic sources to improve the functioning of oneor more processing paradigms. Extrinsic information 316 can be used tointerpret data received from a device, to determine a characteristic ofthe environment near the device (e.g., outside a structure that thedevice is enclosed in), to determine services or products available tothe user, to identify a social network or social-network information, todetermine contact information of entities (e.g., public-service entitiessuch as an emergency-response team, the police or a hospital) near thedevice, etc., to identify statistical or environmental conditions,trends or other information associated with a home or neighborhood, andso forth.

An extraordinary range and variety of benefits can be brought about by,and fit within the scope of, the described extensible devices andservices platform 200, ranging from the ordinary to the profound. Thus,in one “ordinary” example, each bedroom of the smart-home environment100 can be provided with a smart wall switch 108, a smart wall plug 110,and/or smart hazard detectors 104, all or some of which include anoccupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor is also capable ofinferring by virtue of motion detection, facial recognition, audiblesound patterns, etc.) whether the occupant is asleep or awake. If aserious fire event is sensed, the remote security/monitoring service orfire department is advised of how many occupants there are in eachbedroom, and whether those occupants are still asleep (or immobile) orwhether they have properly evacuated the bedroom. While this is, ofcourse, a very advantageous capability accommodated by the describedextensible devices and services platform, there can be substantiallymore “profound” examples that can truly illustrate the potential of alarger “intelligence” that can be made available. By way of perhaps amore “profound” example, the same data bedroom occupancy data that isbeing used for fire safety can also be “repurposed” by the processingengine 206 in the context of a social paradigm of neighborhood childdevelopment and education. Thus, for example, the same bedroom occupancyand motion data discussed in the “ordinary” example can be collected andmade available for processing (properly anonymized) in which the steeppatterns of schoolchildren in a particular ZIP code can be identifiedand tracked. Localized variations in the sleeping patterns of theschoolchildren may be identified and correlated, for example, todifferent nutrition programs in local schools.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-F, illustrated is a multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 that may be used as part of a smart home environment 100 aspreviously described. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an exploded perspectiveviews of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400, while FIGS. 4C and 4Dillustrate an assembled view of the same multi-sensing hazard detector400. FIG. 4E illustrates a front view of the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 and FIG. 4F illustrates a cross-sectional view of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400, showing the arrangement of severalinternal components. In one embodiment, multi-sensing hazard detector400 is a smoke detector that is configured to detect the presence ofsmoke and sound an alarm to audibly warn an occupant or occupants of thehome or structure of a potential fire or other danger. In otherembodiments, multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may be a carbon monoxidedetector, heat detector, and the like. In one embodiment, multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is a multi-sensing detector that includes a smokedetector, carbon monoxide detector, heat detector, motion detector, andthe like. Many of the present teachings are particularly advantageousfor embodiments in which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is amulti-sensing detector, particularly since combining the various sensingmodes together into a single device can pose substantial challenges withrespect to one or more of device compactness, component powering, andoverall component governance and coordination.

-   For convenience in describing the embodiments herein, the device 400    will be referred to hereinbelow as multi-sensing hazard detector    400, although it should be realized that multi-sensing hazard    detector 400 may include various other devices and that the scope of    the present teachings is not necessarily limited to multi-sensing    hazard detectors in which smoke is required as one of the anomalies    to be detected. Thus, for example, depending on the particular    context as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art upon    reading the instant disclosure, one or more of the advantageous    features and embodiments described herein may be readily applicable    to a multi-functional hazard sensor that detects carbon monoxide and    motion only, or pollen and motion only, or noise pollution and    pollen only, and so forth. Nevertheless, the combining of smoke    detection functionality with other sensing functions does bring    about one or more particularly problematic issues that are addressed    by one or more of the present teachings.

In one embodiment, multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is a roughly squareor rectangular shaped object having a width of approximately 120 to 160mm and a thickness of approximately 38 mm. Stated differently,multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is a multi-sensing unit having afairly compact shape and size that may be easily attached to a wall orceiling of a home or structure so as to be able, among otherfunctionalities, to detect the presence of smoke and alert an occupanttherein of the potential fire danger. As shown in FIGS. 4A and B,multi-sensing hazard detector 400 includes a mounting plate 500 that maybe attached to a wall of the building or structure to secure themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 thereto. Multi-sensing hazard detector400 also includes a back plate 600 that may be mounted to the mountingplate 500 and a front casing 1100 that may be coupled with or otherwisesecured to back plate 600 to define a housing having an interior regionwithin which components of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 arecontained. A circuit board 900 may be coupled with or attached to backplate 600. Various components may be mounted on circuit board 900. Forexample, a smoke chamber 700 may be coupled with or mounted on circuitboard 900 and configured to detect the presence of smoke. In oneembodiment, smoke chamber 700 may be mid-mounted relative to circuitboard 900 so that air may flow into smoke chamber 700 from a positionabove circuit board 900 and below circuit board 900. A speaker 950 andalarm device (not number) may also be mounted on circuit board 900 toaudibly warn an occupant of a potential fire danger when the presence ofsmoke is detected via smoke chamber 700. Other components, such as amotion sensor, carbon monoxide sensor, microprocessor, and the like maylikewise be mounted on circuit board 900 as described herein.

In one embodiment, a protective plate 800 may be attached to orotherwise coupled with circuit board 900 to provide a visually pleasingappearance to the inner components of multi-sensing hazard detector 400and/or to funnel or direct airflow to smoke chamber 700. For example,when a user views the internal components of multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, such as through vents in back plate 600, protective plate800 may provide the appearance of a relatively smooth surface andotherwise hide the components or circuitry of circuit board 900.Protective plate 800 may likewise function to direct a flow of air fromthe vents of back plate 600 toward smoke chamber 700 so as to facilitateair flow into and out of smoke chamber 700.

Multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may also include a battery pack 1000that is configured to provide power to the various components ofmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 when multi-sensing hazard detector 400is not coupled with an external power source, such as a 120 V powersource of the home or structure. In some embodiments, a cover plate 1300may be coupled with the front casing 1100 to provide a visually pleasingappearance to multi-sensing hazard detector 400 and/or for otherfunctional purposes. In a specific embodiment, cover plate 1300 mayinclude a plurality of holes or openings that allow one or more sensorscoupled with circuit board 900 to view or see through a surface of coverplate 1300 so as to sense objects external to multi-sensing hazarddetector 400. The plurality of openings of cover plate 1300 may bearranged to provide a visually pleasing appearance when viewed byoccupants of the home or structure. In one embodiment, the plurality ofopenings of cover plate 1300 may be arranged according to a repeatingpattern, such as a Fibonacci or other sequence.

A lens button 1200 may be coupled with or otherwise mounted to coverplate 1300. Lens button 1200 may allow one or more sensors to viewthrough the lens button 1200 for various purposes. For example, in oneembodiment a passive IR sensor (not shown) may be positioned behind thelens button 1200 and configured to view through the lens button 1200 todetect the presence of an occupant or occupants within the home orstructure. Infrared absorption at specific wavelengths could also bemeasured to assess CO₂ and other gas concentrations in the room. Thiscould be used as an air quality assessment or as a warning fur hazardousconditions. In another embodiment an ambient light sensor could also bepositioned behind the lens to obtain lighting conditions in the room.Also, an infrared camera could be positioned behind the lens to obtain aview of heat sources in the room. This could be used as an early warningdevice for dangerous levels of heat observed, as a way to determine theaverage temperature in the room, and as an occupancy indicator bydetecting heat from people. In some embodiments, lens button 1200 mayalso function as a button that is pressable by a user to input variouscommands to multi-sensing hazard detector 400, such as to shut off analarm that is triggered in response to a fake or otherwise harmlesscondition. Positioned distally behind lens button 1200 may be a lightring 1220 that is configured to receive light, such as from an LED, anddisperse the light within ring 1220 to provide a desired visualappearance, such as a halo behind lens button 1200. Positioned distallybehind light ring 1220 may be a flexible circuit board 1240 thatincludes one or more electrical components, such as a passive IR sensor(hereinafter PIR sensor), LEDs, and the like. Flexible circuit board1240 (hereinafter flex ring 1240) may be electrically coupled withcircuit board 900 to communicate and/or receive instructions from one ormore microprocessors mounted on circuit board (not shown) duringoperation of multi-sensing hazard detector 400. Additional details ofthe components of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 are described inFIGS. 5A-13B.

FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate multi-sensing hazard detector 400 with thevarious components assembled. Specifically, these figures show themounting plate 500, front casing 1100, back plate 600, and cover plate1300 in an assembled configuration with the various other componentscontained within an interior space of multi-sensing hazard detector 400.These figures also show the plurality of holes or openings of coverplate 1300 forming a visually pleasing design that is viewable byoccupant of a room within which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ismounted. The lens button 1200 is shown attached to the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 so as to be centrally positioned with respect tocover plate 1300. As briefly described, light ring 1220 may be used toprovide a halo appearance of light around and behind lens button 1200.The assembled multi-sensing hazard detector 400 provides a compact yetmultifunctional device.

FIG. 4F illustrates a cross-sectional view of the assembledmulti-sensing hazard detector 400. Specifically FIG. 4F illustrates theback plate 600 coupled to the mounting plate 500, which may be attachedto a wall or ceiling of a home or structure. The front casing 1100 isattached to the back plate 600 to define the housing having an interiorregion within which components of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400are contained. Cover plate 1300 is coupled with front casing 1100 toprovide a visually appealing outer surface as previously described. Lensbutton 1200 is coupled with cover plate 1300 and positioned centrallyrelative thereto. Positioned under lens button 1200 is light ring 1220and flex ring 1240. Circuit board 900 is coupled with back plate 600 andincludes various components (e.g. one or more microprocessors, a motionsensor or sensors, an alarm device, a CO detector, heat sensor, and thelike) mounted thereon to be used for various purposes.

FIG. 4F also illustrates that the smoke chamber 700 is mid-mountedwithin the interior of the housing of multi-sensing hazard detector 400.As shown, mid-mounting is characterized in that the smoke chamber 700extends through a hole formed in the circuit board 900 such that a topsurface of the smoke chamber 700 is positioned above a top surface ofthe circuit board 900 and a bottom surface of the smoke chamber 700 ispositioned below a bottom surface of the circuit board 900. In thisconfiguration, an interior chamber of smoke chamber 700 is accessible tosmoke from both the top surface of the circuit board 900 and the bottomsurface of the circuit board 900. Stated differently, smoke chamber 700is mounted on circuit board 900 such that air is flowable into aninterior region of smoke chamber 700 from one or both sides of thecircuit board 900 and flowable out of the interior region of smokechamber 700 from an opposite side of the circuit board 900. In thismanner, the flow of air and smoke is essentially or substantiallyunimpeded into and out of the smoke chamber 700.

In some embodiments, smoke chamber 700 may also be mid-mounted withrespect to protective plate 800. In other words, smoke chamber 700 mayextend through a hole formed in protective plate 800 such that a topsurface of smoke chamber 700 is positioned above a top surface ofprotective plate 800 and a bottom surface of smoke chamber 700 ispositioned below a bottom surface of protective plate 800. In thisconfiguration, smoke chamber 700 is mid-mounted with respect to both theprotective plate 800 and circuit board 900 so that air and smoke isflowable into smoke chamber 700 from both a top surface and a bottomsurface of circuit board 900 and protective plate 800. Further, in thisconfiguration protective plate 800 functions to direct airflow towardsmoke chamber 700. For example, the edges of protective plate 800 arepositioned near the edge of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 andprotective plate 800 provides a relatively smooth surface that directsair flow from near the edges of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 towardthe smoke chamber 700, which is positioned substantially centrallywithin multi-sensing hazard detector 400. The substantially smooth orflat surface of protective plate 800 prevents air and smoke fromcontacting the components of circuit board 900 and thereby helpsfacilitate airflow into and out of smoke chamber 700.

The mid-mounting of smoke chamber 700 also helps prevent pressurebuildup within multi-sensing hazard detector 400 since air and smoke isflowable along or adjacent one side of the circuit board 900 to smokechamber 700, through smoke chamber 700, and flowable along or adjacentan opposite side of circuit board 900. For example, in some conventionalhazard detectors having a smoke chamber mounted on one side of a circuitboard, air pressure may increase near the smoke chamber since air andsmoke is only able to flow to the smoke chamber along one side of thecircuit board, but not an opposite side of the circuit board. Stateddifferently, the air and smoke may accumulate near the smoke chambercausing an increase in air pressure near the smoke chamber since the airis funneled towards the smoke chamber along a single surface of thecircuit board, but not able to exit along any other route other than thesingle surface of the circuit board. The mid-mounting of smoke chamber700 described herein allows air and smoke to be funneled toward thesmoke chamber 700 along one side or surface of circuit board 900, passthrough the smoke chamber 700, and exit along an opposite side orsurface of circuit board 900.

Mid-mounting of smoke chamber 700 also decreases an orientationaldependence of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 in detecting smokewithin the home or structure. For example, when testing smoke detectors,the smoke detectors are typically rotated to find the least sensitivesmoke detection direction. The sensitivity of the smoke detectors aretypically tested with the smoke detectors oriented in the leastsensitive direction. Mid-mounting of the smoke chamber 700 withinmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 substantially reduces or eliminatesorientation dependence in relation to the detection functionality.Stated differently, mid-mounting of the smoke chamber 700 essentiallyallows the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to exhibit uniform smokedetection ability regardless of the orientation.

Mid-mounting of smoke chamber 700 may also facilitate in cooling thevarious components mounted on or otherwise coupled with circuit board900. For example, airflow within multi-sensing hazard detector 400 maybe increased due to the ability of air to flow in, around, and throughsmoke chamber 700. Airflow relative to one or more heat producingelectrical components mounted on the circuit board, such as one or moremicroprocessors, may be increased because air does not accumulate atopthe circuit board 900 or otherwise within multi-sensing hazard detector400 due to the presence of the mid-mounted smoke chamber 700 and/orother mid-mounted components. The increased flow of air around the oneor more heat producing electrical components may provide a degree ofcooling for such components. In one embodiment a first microprocessor(not shown) may be coupled on a first side of circuit board 900 while asecond microprocessor (not shown) is coupled on a second side of circuitboard 900 opposite the first microprocessor. Air may flow between thefirst and second sides of circuit board 900 as described herein toprovide a degree of cooling for the first microprocessor and/or secondmicroprocessor. In another embodiment, the one or more heat producingelectrical components may be advantageously positioned or mounted oncircuit board 900 to create a thermal flow that promotes airflowto/through the smoke chamber 700 and/or relative to other componentsmounted on circuit board 900. For example, one or more microprocessorsor resistors may be arranged on the circuit board to create free ornatural convective air currents that cause air to flow through smokechamber 700 and/or across other components mounted on the circuit board900. In this manner, cooling of the one or more electrical componentsand/or airflow within multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may beincreased.

In some embodiments, other components of the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 may likewise be mid-mounted relative to circuit board 900and/or protective plate 800. For example, in one embodiment a COdetector is mid-mounted with respect to circuit board 900 and/orprotective plate 800 such that a top surface of the CO detector ispositioned above the top surface of the circuit board 900 and/orprotective plate 800 while a bottom surface of the CO detector ispositioned below a bottom surface of the circuit board 900 and/orprotective plate 800. As such, air may be accessible to the CO detectorfrom both the top surface and a bottom surface of the circuit board 900and/or protective plate 800. In another embodiment, an additionalairflow dependent sensor, such as in air quality sensor, a pollendetector, flow rate sensor, and the like, may be mid-mounted withrespect to the circuit board 900 and/or protective plate 800 so that airis accessible to the additional air flow dependent sensor from both thetop surface and bottom surface of the circuit board 900 and/orprotective plate 800.

As described herein, an advantageous feature of the mid-mounted smokechamber 700 is the reduction or elimination of pressure regions withinthe multi-sensing hazard detector 400 and adjacent the smoke chamber 700since smoke and other gases may easily flow through the smoke chamber700 and multi-sensing hazard detector 400. To further promote the flowof air, smoke, and other gases through the smoke chamber 700, themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 may be equipped with one or moremicro-fans that draw air into the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 fromone region and cause the air to flow out of the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 in another region. The micro-fans can be positioned tocause the air to pass through the smoke chamber 700 and circuit board900 to prevent air pressure buildup near the smoke chamber 700. Theincreased flow of air may provide additional cooling benefits to thevarious components mounted on circuit board 900.

Circuit board 900 may also include a micro-air flow detector that isdesigned to monitor and measure a flow of air passing by the circuitboard 900 and/or through the smoke chamber 700. In some embodiments, thetop and bottom surface of the circuit board 900 may each include an airflow detector so that the air flow relative to the top and bottomsurfaces of circuit board 900 may be monitored and measured. Ifabnormalities are detected, such as a significant drop in air flowrelative to one or both surfaces, an occupant of the building may bealerted to a potential problem with the multi-sensing hazard detector400. For example, the occupant may be alerted to it blocked or cloggedair passageway of multi-sensing hazard detector 400. To detectabnormalities, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may be designed tomonitor the air flow patterns for a defined amount of time so as tolearn the air flow patterns of the home or structure and/or an averageair flow rate of the home or structure.

In another embodiment, the home or structure may include a plurality ofmulti-sensing hazard detectors 400 that are positioned in various rooms,hallways, equipment rooms, and the like. The air flow data associatedwith each location may be measured and monitored and recorded in acentralized database. This data may be analyzed to help determine theair flow currents or patterns of the home or structure. This informationmay then be used to optimize placement of multi-sensing hazard detectors400 within the building so as to position the multi-sensing hazarddetectors 400 in locations that are most likely to be exposed to smokequickly. In some embodiments, a message may be transmitted to anoccupant of the building that illustrates the measured air flow patternsand/or suggests a placement scheme based on the analyzed data. The datacollected in the centralized database may be provided to and used byhomebuilders, city planners, and the like to determine how to improvethe efficiency of homes and/or residential areas.

Referring now to FIGS. 4G-4H, illustrated is a multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 for use in a building or structure for detecting potentialdangers therein. Multi-sensing hazard detector 400 includes numerouscomponents as described herein that allow the multi-sensing hazarddetector to perform a variety of functions, such as detecting smoke,detecting occupancy of a room, detecting CO levels, communicatinginformation via speakers, alarms, electronic messages, and the like,wireless communicating with electronic devices, and the like. Aparticular advantage of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is that thisfunctionality is provided within a relatively small volume housing. Assuch, the space requirement for the multi-sensing hazard detector 400within a room are reduced. In one embodiment, the volume of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400's housing comprises a volume of lessthan about 1024 cubic centimeters. In another embodiment, the volume ofthe multi-sensing hazard detector 400's housing comprises a volume ofless than about 680 cubic centimeters, or less than about 450 cubiccentimeters.

These total volume dimensions may account for all the components of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400. For example, as described herein, themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 typically includes a mounting plate500 and cover plate 1300 that is coupled with the front casing 1100 andthat faces an occupant of a room or area in which the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is positioned. The total volume of the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 including the cover plate 1300 is less than about1024 cubic centimeters, or in some embodiments, less than 680 or 450cubic centimeters.

Further, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is relatively flat so asnot to extend excessively outwardly from a wall or ceiling of thebuilding or structure. The multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may have aminimum aspect ratio that is defined as a thickness dimension T (i.e.,FIG. 4H) extending outwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by alongest lateral dimension L1 (FIG. 4G) that is perpendicular to thethickness dimension T. In other words, the minimum aspect ratio may becalculated using the equation: AR_(min)=T/L1. The multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 may also have a maximum aspect ratio that is defined as athickness dimension T divided by a shortest lateral dimension L2 that isperpendicular to the thickness dimension T. In other words, the maximumaspect ratio may be calculated using the equation: AR_(max)=T/L2. Insome embodiments, the minimum aspect ratio (AR_(min)) and maximum aspectratio (AR_(max)) may both be less than about 33%. In some embodiments,the minimum aspect ratio (AR_(min)) may be less than about 24% and themaximum aspect ratio (AR_(max)) less than about 33%.

From the equations above it is evident that the flatter themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is (i.e., the smaller the dimension ofT), the smaller the aspect ratio will be for a similar shaped device. Insome embodiments, the multi-sensing hazard detector may be less thanabout 40 mm, or about 38 mm. To further decrease the thickness T of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400, and thereby make the device flatter,the mid-mounting configuration of the smoke chamber 700 and/or othercomponents may be used. Mid-mounting of these components minimizes themaximum and minimum aspect ratios. In some embodiments, the thicknessdimension T may only be minimized to approximately 50 mm withoutmid-mounting the smoke chamber 700. Stated differently, to decrease thethickness dimension T, and thus the flatness of the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, beyond approximately 50 mm, the smoke chamber 700 istypically mid-mounted with respect to circuit board 900 and/or othercomponents of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.

Similarly, assuming that the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is beingcoupled a wall box that has a relatively standard hole size ofapproximately 100 mm, a square multi-sensing hazard detector 400 wouldtypically be about 120 mm on each side (i.e., L2) to provide someoverlap with respect to the wall box hole. In such embodiments, a totalmulti-sensing hazard detector volume of less than approximately 720cubic centimeters is not possible without mid-mounting the smoke chamber700, since the thickness T cannot be less than about 50 mm withoutmid-mounting the smoke chamber 700. Similarly, a round multi-sensinghazard detector 400 with a diameter of approximately 120 mm could nothave a volume of less than about 560 cubic centimeters withoutmid-mounting the smoke chamber 700.

In some embodiments, such as those illustrated herein, the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 may have a generally square or rectangle lateralshape in a plane perpendicular to the thickness dimension T. In someembodiments, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may include readablelettering along a predetermined direction of a front surface thereof.For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the lens button 1200 may includewording that is readable to a user within a room in which themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned. The wording on thefront surface of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may help a userrecognize a proper orientation of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400when the multi-sensing hazard detector is mounted on a wall or ceiling.This configuration makes orienting the device relatively automatic andeasy since the user can read the wording and immediately determine ifthe device is properly oriented or upside-down, rotated, and the like.In this manner, the user does not need to rely on instructions within amanual in orienting the device.

Further, as described herein, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 isconfigured to be adaptable for use on both a wall and ceiling. Forexample, the multi-sensing hazard detector includes ultrasonic sensors(i.e., 972 and 974) that are angled to point or view in a direction thatis likely to view an occupant of the home. In some embodiments,improperly orienting the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may cause thesensors (i.e., 972 and 974) to point in the wrong direction, such asangularly upward rather than angularly downward where the sensors arelikely to view occupants. The wording on the front surface of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 intrinsically communicates the properorientation of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 about the wallwhile at the same time remaining visually pleasing to those viewing themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 and not requiring that themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 be placed on the wall (i.e., can beplaced on the ceiling). As shown in the illustrated embodiments herein,the wording may provide aesthetic appeal to the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 since the wording does not include unpleasant markings.

In some embodiments, a lateral dimension (i.e., L1 and/or L2) of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 may be between the range of about 120mm and 190 mm. In a specific embodiment, the back plate may have agenerally square configuration with dimensions of approximately 110mm×110 mm. In such an embodiment, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400may also have a roughly square configuration with dimensions ofapproximately 134 mm×134 mm and a thickness T of approximately 38 mm.

As described herein, the occupancy sensor may be an ultrasonic sensorand multi-sensing hazard detector's components may further include apassive infrared sensor that is configured to detect the presence and/ormovement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazarddetector. The multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may also include anoutwardly facing PIR sensor that includes a Fresnel lens that isconfigured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facing angle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, illustrated are a front view and front andrear perspective views of the mounting plate 500 that allowsmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 to be coupled with a wall or ceilingof a structure or home within which the multi-sensing hazard detector isto be positioned to detect a potential fire or other hazard. Mountingplate 500 includes a body 502 that includes a plurality of holes orapertures that allow the mounting plate 500 to be mounted to the wall orceiling in numerous positions. In some embodiments, mounting plate 500is designed to cover a hole in the wall or ceiling that is cut around anelectrical gang box or wall box. Measured diagonally, electrical gangboxes or wall boxes are typically about 100 mm across. As such, a holein the wall or ceiling is typically about this size (i.e., about 100 mmacross). To cover and hide the hole in the wall, mounting plate 500 maybe sized about or slightly larger than 100 mm across. For example, inone embodiment, mounting plate 500 is sized to be about 110 mm to 120 mmor larger measured diagonally, which provides a 5 mm to 10 mm overlapmargin per side (i.e., 10 mm to 20 mm total) compared with the wall holecut around the gang or wall box.

In other embodiments, mounting plate 500 may be mounted to a wall orceiling without a hole that is cut around an electrical gang box or wallbox. In some embodiments, body 502 comprises a thickness between about1.5 and 6 mm, although a thickness of about 3 mm is more common. Thebackplate 600, which is removably coupled with mounting plate 500 istypically sized slightly larger than the mounting plate 500 such thatthe mounting plate 500 is hidden from view when the components arecoupled together to provide a visual appearance of the multi-sensinghazard detector being positioned adjacent the wall, yet slightly offsettherefrom.

Body 502 includes a centrally located or positioned aperture 504 throughwhich electrical wiring may be inserted to “hardwire”, or otherwiseelectrically couple, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 with thewiring of the home or structure. Body 502 also includes a plurality ofhooked members or bayonets 560 that extend axially outward from anoutward facing surface of the body 502 and that engage withcorresponding apertures (e.g., apertures 606 of FIGS. 6A and 6B)positioned on or near an inward facing surface of the back plate 600 toallow the mounting plate 500 to removably couple with back plate 600. Asshown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, body 502 may include four hooked members 560positioned near respective edges of body 502. Each hooked member 560faces outwardly from body 502 so as to be insertable within thecorresponding apertures 606 of the back plate 600.

Mounting plate 500 also includes four holes 550 that are positioned nearopposite corners of body 502. Holes 550 are mainly used whenmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is being mounted to a wall or ceilingwithout attaching the mounting plate 500 to an electrical box, wall box,gang box, and the like, such as when the multi-sensing hazard detector400 is not going to be hardwired to the electrical wires of the home orstructure. Stated differently, holes 550 are mainly used when themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is mounted directly to the wall orceiling without coupling the mounting plate 500 to an electrical box.One common situation in which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ismounted to the wall or ceiling without coupling the mounting plate 500to an electrical box is when the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ismounted with drywall or wallboard in a home or structure. A screw, nail,or other mechanical fastening device may be easily inserted throughholes 550 to attach the mounting plate 500 to the wall or ceiling of thestructure or building (e.g., drywall, wallboard, and the like) withinwhich the multi-sensing hazard detector is to be positioned.

Body 502 further includes a plurality of apertures that are spaced andarranged circumferentially around aperture 504. Specifically, body 502includes a first set of apertures 510, a second set of apertures 520, athird set of apertures 530, and a fourth set of apertures 540. Each ofthese apertures are arranged according to an attachment standard ofelectrical boxes or gang boxes that are common in one or more countriesor regions around the world, such as in the United States and Europe.The spacing and arrangement of these apertures allow the mounting plate500 to be easily fit to a wall box or gang box regardless of thespecific attachment standard(s) used in a given country. Further, theseapertures are slotted to allow the mounting plate 500 and multi-sensinghazard detector 400 to be mounted to a wall or ceiling while having somedegree of rotational freedom relative to the wall or ceiling. Forexample, the slotted apertures allow the mounting plate 500 andmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 to be mounted at a roughly 90° or 45°configuration relative to the wall or some other feature of the room andsubsequently rotated plus or minus 45-60° relative thereto.

Each set of apertures, 510, 520, 530, and 540, includes four slottedapertures spaced and arranged circumferentially around aperture 504. Thefour slotted apertures are arranged into pairs with each slottedaperture of a pair being spaced approximately 180 degrees apart so thatthe slotted apertures of the pair are positioned on opposite sides ofaperture 504. For example, a first slotted aperture 541 a and secondslotted aperture 541 b of aperture set 540 form an aperture pair and arepositioned approximately 180 degrees apart on opposite sides of aperture504. First slotted aperture 541 a is arranged about body 502 so that anaxis 544 that extends from a central axis 502 of aperture 504 andthrough a center point or region of first slotted aperture 541 a forms aroughly 90° angle with an edge 503 of body 502. A third slatted aperture541 c and fourth slotted aperture 541 d of aperture set 540 also form anaperture pair and are positioned approximately 180 degrees apart onapposite sides of aperture 504. Third slotted aperture 541 c is arrangedabout body 502 so that an axis 542 that extends from central axis 502and through a center point or region of third slotted aperture 541 cforms a roughly 45° angle with edge 503 and/or axis 544. The slottedapertures of aperture sets 510, 520, and 530 are similarly arrangedabout body 502.

This slotted aperture pair configuration allows the mounting plate 500and multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to be secured to the wall orceiling in a manner wherein an edge of the multi-sensing hazard detectoris angled at roughly 90° or 45° relative to a floor, wall, and/orceiling of the room within which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400is positioned. The mounting plate 500 and multi-sensing hazard detector400 may then be rotated within the slotted apertures (510, 520, 530, and540) as desired by the user (e.g., up to between 45-60°) to fine tunethe positioning of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 relative to thewall or floor and/or to adjust the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 sothat an edge of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is angled at somedesired degree relative to the wall or floor. In this manner, the usermay make the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 appear to have arelatively box or square configuration relative to a wall or ceiling sothat an edge of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is approximatelylevel with respect to a floor or wall of the room. In anotherconfiguration, the user may arrange the multi-sensing hazard detector400 to have a relatively diamond-shaped configuration relative to thewall or ceiling so that an edge of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400is angled at approximately 45° with respect to a floor or wall of theroom. Other multi-sensing hazard detector configurations are likewisepossible by rotating the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 within theslotted apertures (510, 520, 530, and 540) so that an edge of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is angled at essentially any desireddegree (e.g., between 30-60°) with respect to a floor or wall of theroom.

According to one embodiment, the first set of apertures 510 is arrangedon body 502 circumferentially around aperture 504 and dimensionedaccording to a first attachment standard of a first electrical box organg box. The first attachment standard defines a distance or spacingrange of the first set of apertures 510. In one embodiment, the firstattachment standard defines a hole or aperture spacing of about 60 mmfor the first set of apertures 510. Stated differently, the firstattachment standard may define that each slotted aperture 510 has aroughly 30 mm radius 512 from central axis 502 of aperture 504.Arranging and dimensioning the first set of apertures 510 according tothe first attachment standard allows the mounting plate 500 to becoupled with the first electrical box or gang box when the firstelectrical box or gang box is attached to a wall or ceiling of abuilding or structure. The second set of apertures 520 is arranged onbody 502 circumferentially around aperture 504 and dimensioned accordingto a second attachment standard of a second electrical box or gang box.The second attachment standard defines a distance or spacing range ofthe second set of apertures 520. In one embodiment, the secondattachment standard defines a hole or aperture spacing of about 71 mmfor the second set of apertures 520. Stated differently, the secondattachment standard may define that each slotted aperture 520 has aroughly 35.5 mm radius 522 from central axis 502 of aperture 504.Arranging and dimensioning the second set of apertures 520 according tothe second attachment standard allows the mounting plate 500 to becoupled with the second electrical box or gang box when the secondelectrical box or gang box is attached to a wall or ceiling of abuilding or structure.

Similarly, the third set of apertures 530 is arranged on body 502circumferentially around aperture 504 and dimensioned according to athird attachment standard of a third electrical box or gang box. Thethird attachment standard defines a distance or spacing range of thethird set of apertures 530. In one embodiment, the third attachmentstandard defines a hole or aperture spacing of about 83.5 mm for thethird set of apertures 530. Stated differently, the third attachmentstandard may define that each slotted aperture 530 has a roughly 41.75mm radius 532 from central axis 502 of aperture 504. Arranging anddimensioning the third set of apertures 530 according to the thirdattachment standard allows the mounting plate 500 to be coupled with thethird electrical box or gang box when the third electrical box or gangbox is attached to a wall or ceiling of a building or structure. Thefourth set of apertures 540 are arranged on body 502 circumferentiallyaround aperture 504 and dimensioned according to a fourth attachmentstandard of a fourth electrical box or gang box. The fourth attachmentstandard defines a distance or spacing range of the fourth set ofapertures 540. In one embodiment, the fourth attachment standard definesa hole or aperture spacing of about 88 mm for the fourth set ofapertures 540. Stated differently, the fourth attachment standard maydefine that each slotted aperture 540 has a roughly 44 mm radius 542from central axis 502 of aperture 504. Arranging and dimensioning thefourth set of apertures 540 according to the fourth attachment standardallows the mounting plate 500 to be coupled with the fourth electricalbox or gang box when the fourth electrical box or gang box is attachedto a wall or ceiling of a building or structure.

In some embodiments, each slatted aperture (510, 520, 530, and 540) maybe configured to allow the mounting plate 500 to be rotated betweenabout 10 degrees and 30 degrees relative to an electrical box themounting plate 500 is coupled with. In another embodiment, each slottedaperture (510, 520, 530, and 540) may be configured to allow themounting plate 500 to rotate about 15 degrees relative to an electricalbox the mounting plate 500 is coupled with. In this manner, the totalrotational freedom of the mounting plate 500, and thus the multi-sensinghazard detector 400, relative to an electrical box provided by theslotted apertures (510, 520, 530, and 540) may be between about 20degrees and 60 degrees.

In some embodiments, the more arcuate or slotted each slotted aperture(510, 520, 530, and 540) is made, the larger the rotational freedomprovided to the mounting plate 500. Conversely, the more arcuate orslotted each slotted aperture (510, 520, 530, and 540) is made, the morespace each slotted aperture (510, 520, 530, and 540) occupies on body502, which may cause adjacent slotted aperture to overlap and interferewith one another. A slot shape or configuration that allows the mountingplate 500 to rotate between about 10 degrees and 30 degrees relative toan electrical box has been found to provide a good balance of rotationalfreedom while minimizing adjacent slotted aperture overlap. In anotherembodiment each slotted aperture may be configured to allow the mountingplate 500 to rotate between about 10 degrees and 20 degrees relative toan electrical box, and in a specific embodiment, each slot may beconfigured to allow the mounting plate 500 to rotate about 15 degreesrelative to the electrical box. A slotted aperture configurationallowing between 10 degrees and 20 degrees of rotation freedom providesa sizing advantage over the slotted aperture configuration allowing 10to 30 degrees of rotation freedom (i.e., less slotted aperture overlapconcerns), but also restricts the overall rotational freedom. The slotconfiguration allowing approximately 15 degrees provides an optimaladvantage of rotational freedom and slotted aperture size. In someembodiments, some or all slotted apertures may be sized differently. Inanother embodiment, each slotted aperture within a slotted aperture pairmay be sized the same while other slotted aperture pairs are sizeddifferently. Various combinations are possible as desired.

In one embodiment, two of the attachment standards (i.e., the first,second, third, or fourth attachment standards) correspond to attachmentstandards that are used in a first country or region of the world, suchas the United States, while the other two attachment standardscorrespond to attachment standards that are used in a second country orregion of the world, such as in Europe. Since mounting plate 500includes slotted apertures sets (510, 520, 530, and 540) that areconfigured to fit each of the four attachment standards, mounting plate500 is adaptable and mountable to various electrical boxes, wall boxes,or gang box regardless of the attachment standards used and regardlessof the region where the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is being used.This essentially allows the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to bemounted to an electrical, wall, or gang box regardless of the specificattachment standard used in the home or structure.

In one embodiment, the mounting plate 500 may be configured to easilyadapt to the various mounting standards of other electrical devices(e.g., thermostats, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, and the like) toenable the mounting plate 500 to easily attach numerous electricaldevices with numerous electrical boxes. For example, the differentelectrical devices may each use an attachment standard that is differentfrom other electrical devices or relatively unique to a product,manufacturing company, and the like. Thus, mounting the variouselectrical devices with an electrical box may be a relatively difficulttask. The mounting plate 500 described herein may include a plurality ofsets of hooked members (e.g., 560) that are each arranged according topopular mounting standards so that the mounting plate 500 may be easilyattached to various electrical devices as well as being easily attachedto various electrical boxes.

In one embodiment, a second mounting plate (not shown) may be used toenable coupling of various electrical devices with various electricalboxes. For example, a first mounting plate (not shown) may include aplurality of slotted aperture sets (not shown) that are dimensioned andarranged according to various electrical box attachment standards asdescribed herein. The first mounting plate may be easily attached to aspecific electrical box having a specific attachment standard asdescribed above. A second mounting plate (not shown) may also include aplurality of slotted aperture sets (not shown) that are each dimensionedand arranged according to popular mounting standards of electricaldevices. The second mounting plate may be easily attached to a specificelectrical device by inserting fasteners through apertures of theslotted aperture sets that correspond to the specific mounting standardof the electrical device. The first and second mounting plates may thenbe coupled together, such as by inserting hooked members (not shown) ofthe first mounting plate through corresponding apertures (not shown) ofthe second mounting plate. The use of the second mounting plate may alsoallow the electrical device to be easily uncoupled from the electricalbox for repair, replacement, cleaning, and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of back plate 600. Back plate 600 includes a body 602having a plurality of apertures 606 that are configured to mate withhooks 560 of mounting plate 500 to secure the back plate 600 andmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 to the mounting plate 500 and to awall or ceiling of a structure or home. Back plate 600 covers a rearportion of the internal components of multi-sensing hazard detector 400to encase the internal components within the multi-sensing hazarddetector device. In addition, some of the other components ofmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 (e.g., circuit board 900 and the like)are mounted or otherwise coupled with the back plate 600. Back plate 600couples with the front casing 1100 to define a housing within which thecomponents are contained. In some embodiments, back plate 600 and frontcasing 1100 may be permanently coupled together, while in otherembodiments front casing 1100 may be removable from back plate 600 sothat the internal components are accessible to the user, for example tochange batteries of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.

As shown, back plate 600 includes vents 604 within body 602 that allowair to flow into multi-sensing hazard detector 400. As described herein,an edge or edges of protective play 800 may be positioned adjacent ornear vents 604 to direct air and smoke to flow from vents 604 towards aninternally mounted smoke chamber 700. Body 602 also includes one or moreapertures 610 through which electrical wires of the home or structuremay be inserted to hardwire the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to thehome or structure's electrical wiring. Body 602 may also include one ormore posts 612 that are used to mount and/or position various componentsof multi-sensing hazard detector 400 within the housing defined by backplate 600 and front casing 1100. Body 602 may further include variousapertures or ports 608 through which screws or other mechanicallyfastening devices may be inserted to attach the various internalcomponents of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to back plate 600.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, illustrated is an embodiment of asmoke chamber 700. As shown, smoke chamber 700 comprises a body 702having a roughly cylindrical configuration, although otherconfigurations are possible. In some embodiments, body 702 may have adiameter of between about 30 and 50 mm. In another embodiment, body 702may have a diameter of between about 35 and 45 mm. In a specificembodiment, body 702 may have a diameter of about 42 mm. Body 702 mayalso have a height of between about 10 and 15 mm, with a specificembodiment having a height of about 12.5 mm. Smoke chamber 700 furtherincludes a plurality of baffles 704 positioned circumferentially aroundthe smoke chamber 700. An opening of the baffles may be approximately1.2 mm or smaller to prevent bugs and other objects larger than 1.3 mmfrom entering the smoke chamber 700 while allowing air and smoke tofreely enter therein. Smoke chamber 700 may be an optical smoke sensingdevice, ionization type smoke sensing device, photoelectric smokesensing device, and the like. In one embodiment, smoke chamber 700 maybe and optical device that includes a light source 710 (e.g. LED and thelike) and a light detecting source 712 (e.g. photodiode and the like)for detecting the presence of smoke. With the light source 710 and/orlight detecting source 712, body 702 may have a height of between about15 and 20 mm, with a specific embodiment having a height of about 18.9mm. An axis of the light source 710 may be offset from an axis of thephotodiode 712, such as by 30°, so that light emitted by light source710 is not readily detected by the photodiode 712 unless smoke or otherparticles are within the interior region of smoke chamber 700. The smokedetecting components (e.g., light source 710 and light detecting source712) may be electrically coupled via wires 714 to the circuit board 900so that upon detecting the presence of smoke an alarm device may betriggered or so that other information may be communicated to componentsmounted on or otherwise electrically coupled with the circuit board 900.Body 702 may include one or more flanges 706 that are used to couple thesmoke chamber 700 with the circuit board 900 and/or protective plate800, or otherwise secure the smoke chamber 700 relative thereto.

In some embodiments, smoke chamber 700 may include other components inaddition to smoke detecting components. For example, an additional lightsource (e.g. UV, infrared, visible light, or laser) or light detectingsource component (e.g., Photodiode, phototransistor, or siliconphotomultiplier) may be used within smoke chamber 700 to detect thepresence of pollen, a quality of the air, humidity, and the like viatechniques such as spectroscopy, measuring IR absorption or observingfluorescence. The additional light source or light detecting sourcecomponent could be used to increase the sensitive area inside the smokechamber so that more particles in the chamber can be seen. Theadditional light source or light detecting source component could beused to help distinguish between smoke and a false alarm. In anotherembodiment, it could be used as a particle counter or pollen counter togive an indication of general air quality. Information about the pollencount may be provided to an occupant or occupants of the home orstructure, or recorded on a central database, to help individuals beaware of possible allergy issues. In another embodiment, the additionalcomponents within smoke chamber 700 may be used to determine if the roomis relatively humid, which may cause the multi-sensing hazard detector400 to falsely trigger the alarm device. Differing light sources andwavelengths could be used to identify particle sizes to distinguishbetween water, smoke, or pollen. If the smoke chamber 700 determinesthat the humidity is relatively high, the sensitivity of the smokedetecting components may be reduced so as to reduce the occurrence offalse alarms. In this manner, smoke chamber 700 may function as amulti-sensing unit. In other embodiments, the additional components maybe positioned at locations within multi-sensing hazard detector 400other than the smoke chamber.

FIGS. 7C-E illustrate various cross section views of smoke chamber 700.Specifically, FIG. 7C illustrates a front cross sectional view where thecross sectional plane is orthogonal to an axis of smoke chamber 700 atapproximately a mid-point axially along smoke chamber 700. FIG. 7Cillustrates the baffles 704 positioned circumferentially around the body702 of smoke chamber 700. As described herein, the baffles 704 may allowsmoke to enter into smoke chamber 700 while preventing light, insects,dust, etc. from entering therein. FIG. 7D illustrates a cross sectionalview taken along a plane orthogonal to the cross sectional plane of FIG.7C and passing through light source 710 and photodiode 712. FIG. 7Dprovides another perspective of the interior portion of smoke chamber700 and the baffles 704 positioned circumferentially around body 702.FIG. 7E illustrates another cross section view taken along a planeorthogonal to the cross sectional planes of FIGS. 7C and 7D. FIG. 7Eprovides yet another perspective of the interior portion of smokechamber 700 and the baffles 704 positioned circumferentially around body702. FIGS. 7D and 7E also illustrate the smoke chamber 700 beingmid-mounted relative to a component 713 of multi-sensing hazard detector400 (e.g., circuit board 900, protective plate 800, and the like). Asshown, in the mid-mounted configuration, air, smoke, and other gas isflowable into the interior of smoke chamber 700 from both the top andbottom surface of component 713.

As shown in FIGS. 7F and 7G, in some embodiments, a smoke chamber mayinclude additional baffles positioned on a top surface (i.e. nearcomponents 710 and 712) or a bottom surface so that smoke is flowableinto the interior of the smoke chamber from the top surface, the bottomsurface, and/or a side or sides of the smoke chamber. In one embodiment,the smoke chamber may include baffles positioned on each surface so thatsmoke is flowable into the interior of the smoke chamber from virtuallyany direction relative to the smoke chamber. With regard to optical orphotoelectric smoke chambers, a particular concern with adding bafflesto the top or bottom surface is limiting or eliminating the penetrationof light into the smoke chamber, which may falsely trigger the alarmdevice. In hazard detectors employing such smoke sensor technology, thebaffles must be capable of allowing smoke and air to enter into thesmoke chamber while limiting or eliminating tight from entering therein.

FIG. 7F illustrates one embodiment of a top or bottom surface 740 thatincludes baffles that are designed to limit the penetration of lightinto the smoke chamber. Specifically, a first plate 742 may include aplurality of openings or holes 744. The first plate 742 may bepositioned over a second plate 746 having one or more slots 748. Whenthe first plate 742 and second plate 746 are coupled together, the holes744 and slots 748 may be offset to prevent or from entering into theinterior region of the smoke chamber while allowing smoke and air toenter therein. FIG. 7F also illustrates a cross section view of thecoupled components. FIG. 7G also illustrate an embodiment of a top orbottom surface 750 that includes baffles that are designed to limit thepenetration of light. Specifically, a single plate 752 may includediagonally shaped vanes or baffles 754 that prevent or limit light fromentering into the interior region of the smoke chamber while allowingsmoke and air to enter therein. The baffles 754 of plate 752 may includea labyrinth design to prevent light from penetrating into the interiorregion of the smoke chamber.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, illustrated is a front and rearperspective view of a protective plate 800. Protective plate 800includes a body 802 having a relatively centrally located aperture 804through which the smoke chamber 700 is insertable to mid-mount the smokechamber 700 relative to protective plate 800 as previously described.Body 802 also includes a pair of notches 808 positioned on oppositesides of the centrally located aperture 804 through which wires 714 arepositioned to electrically couple smoke chamber 700 with circuit board900. Body 802 also includes a plurality of holes 806 that allow theprotective plate 800 to be attached to or otherwise coupled with circuitboard 900 and/or back plate 600. As shown in FIG. 4F, when mounted withcircuit board 900, protective plate 800 covers the various componentsmounted on the rear or bottom surface of circuit board 900. In thismanner, protective plate 800 functions to prevent the components ofcircuit board 900 from being touched or viewed by a user, such as whenthe back plate 600 is removed to change batteries of multi-sensinghazard detector 400 or for various other reasons. In addition, if a userviews the interior of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 through one ofthe vents 604 of back plate 600, the protective plate 800 hides thecomponents of circuit board 900 from the user's view and provides avisually pleasing surface, thereby helping the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 have a cleaner and more pleasing appearance.

Protective plate 800 also optimizes air flow to smoke chamber 700 aswell. For example, as previously described, the outer edges ofprotective plate 800 are positioned adjacent or near vents 604 of backplate 600 so that air and smoke entering multi-sensing hazard detector400 via vents 604 is directed or funneled from the edge of multi-sensinghazard detector 400 towards smoke chamber 700. The relatively flat andsmooth surface of protective plate 800 helps funnel or channel the airflow towards smoke chamber 700. Since smoke chamber 700 is mid-mountedrelative to protective plate 800, smoke and air easily flow into smokechamber 700 from a bottom surface of protective plate 800. Protectiveplate 800 may have one or more beveled or chamfered edges as shownpositioned near smoke chamber 700 and/or one or more edges of protectiveplate 800.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of circuit board 900. Circuit board 900 includes amain body 902 having a front side or surface and a rear side or surface.As described herein, various electrical components are mounted oncircuit board 900. In some embodiments, these components may be mountedon the front surface of circuit board 900, on the rear surface ofcircuit board 900 opposite the front surface, or on both surfaces of thecircuit board 900. For example, in a specific embodiment one or moremicroprocessors and/or other processor related components may be mountedon the rear surface of circuit board 900 facing protective plate 800while one or more functional components (e.g. an alarm device, COdetector, speaker, motion sensors, Wi-Fi device, Zigbee device, and thelike) are mounted on a front surface of circuit board 900 facing a roomof the home or structure in which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400is positioned. Other components may be mid-mounted relative to circuitboard 900 so that opposing surfaces are positioned on opposing sides ofthe circuit board 900 as described herein.

As shown in FIG. 9A, in a specific embodiment the front surface ofcircuit board 900 may include a CO detector 970 that is configured todetect presence of carbon monoxide gas and trigger an alarm device 960if the carbon monoxide gas levels are determined to be too high. Thealarm device 960 (which can be a piezoelectric buzzer having anintentionally shrill or jarring sound) may likewise be mounted on thefront surface of circuit board 900 so as to face an occupant of the roomin which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned to alarmthe occupant of a potential danger. Alarm device 960 may be configuredto produce one or more sounds or signals to alert the occupant of thepotential danger. The front surface may further include an area 952 inwhich a speaker 950 is positioned. Speaker 950 may be configured toprovide audible warnings or messages to the occupant of the room. Forexample, speaker 950 may alert the occupant of a potential danger andinstruct the occupant to exit the room. In some embodiments, speaker 950may provide specific instructions to the occupant, such as an exit routeto use when exiting the room and/or home or structure. Other messagesmay likewise be communicated to the occupant, such as to alert theoccupant that the batteries are low, that CO levels are relatively highin the room, that multi-sensing hazard detector 400 needs periodiccleaning, or alert the occupant of any other abnormalities or issuesrelated to multi-sensing hazard detector 400 or components thereof.

Circuit board 900 may also include one or more motion sensors mounted onthe front surface thereof. The motion sensors may be used to determinethe presence of an individual within a room or surrounding area ofmulti-sensing hazard detector 400. This information may be used tochange the functionality of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 and/or oneor more other devices connected in a common network as describedpreviously. For example, this information may be relayed to a smartthermostat to inform the thermostat that occupants of the home orstructure are present so that the smart thermostat may condition thehome or structure according to one or more learned or programmedsettings. Multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may likewise use thisinformation for one or more purposes, such as to quiet the alarm device(e.g. gesture hush) as described herein or for various other reasons.

In one embodiment, a first ultrasonic sensor 972 and a second ultrasonicsensor 974 may be mounted on the front surface of circuit board 900. Thetwo ultrasonic sensors, 972 and 974, may be offset axially so as topoint in slightly different directions. In this orientation, eachultrasonic sensor may be used to detect motion of an individual based onan orientation of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 relative to theroom and/or occupant. Detecting the motion of the individual may be usedto quiet the alarm device as described herein (i.e., gesture hush) orfor any other reason. In one embodiment, an axis of the first ultrasonicsensor 972 may be oriented substantially outward relative tomulti-sensing hazard detector 400 while an axis of the second ultrasonicsensor 974 is oriented an angle relative to the axis of first ultrasonicsensor 972. The first ultrasonic sensor 972 may sense motion of anindividual when the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is mounted on aceiling of the home or structure. Because the first ultrasonic sensor972 is oriented substantially outward relative to multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, the first ultrasonic sensor 972 essentially looks straightdown on individuals beneath multi-sensing hazard detector 400. Thesecond ultrasonic sensor 974 may similarly sense motion of theindividual when the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is mounted on awall of the home or structure. Because the second ultrasonic sensor 974is oriented at an angle relative to the first ultrasonic sensor 972 andmulti-sensing hazard detector 400, the second ultrasonic sensoressentially looks downward toward the floor when the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is mounted on a wall of the home or structure,rather than looking directly outward as first ultrasonic sensor 972. Inone embodiment, the angular offset of the two ultrasonic sensors may beapproximately 30° or any other desired value.

In another embodiment, the two ultrasonic sensors, 972 and 974, may bereplaced by a single ultrasonic sensor that is configured to rotatewithin multi-sensing hazard detector 400 so that the single ultrasonicsensor is capable of looking straight outward similar to firstultrasonic sensor 972 or capable of looking downward similar to secondultrasonic sensor 974. The single ultrasonic sensor may be coupled tocircuit board 900 via a hinge that allows the ultrasonic sensor torotate based on the orientation of multi-sensing hazard detector 400.For example, when multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is mounted to aceiling of the home or structure, gravity may orient the ultrasonicsensor so as to look straight downward; whereas when multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is coupled to a wall of the home or structure,gravity may cause the ultrasonic sensor to rotate via the hinge and lookdownward toward a floor and relative to multi-sensing hazard detector400. In another embodiment, a motor may be coupled with the singleultrasonic sensor so as to rotate the ultrasonic sensor based on theorientation of multi-sensing hazard detector 400. In this manner, theultrasonic sensor may always point in a direction that is likely todetect motion of an individual within the room or space surrounding themulti-sensing hazard detector 400. In yet another embodiment, the singleultrasonic sensor may have a wide field of view that is able tosubstantially accommodate both mounting positions of the two ultrasonicsensors, 972 and 974.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, body 902 of circuit board 900 also includesa substantially centrally located aperture 904 through which smokechamber 700 is inserted so as to mid-mount the smoke chamber 700relative to circuit board 900. Aperture 904 may also include a pair ofnotches 906 through which wires 714 are inserted to electrically couplethe smoke chamber 700 with circuit board 900. As previously described,mid-mounting of the smoke chamber 700 through an aperture 904 allowssmoke and air to enter smoke chamber 700 from both the front surface orside of circuit board 900 and the rear surface or side of circuit board900. Various aspects of the electrical components on the circuit board900 are now described, the positions thereon of many of which will beapparent to the skilled reader in view of the descriptions herein andFIGS. 9A-9B. Included on the circuit board 900 can be severalcomponents, including a system processor, relatively high-power wirelesscommunications circuitry and antenna, relatively low-power wirelesscommunications circuitry and antenna, non-volatile memory, audio speaker950, one or more interface sensors, a safety processor, safety sensors,alarm device 960, a power source, and powering circuitry. The componentsare operative to provide failsafe safety detection features and userinterface features using circuit topology and power budgeting methodsthat minimize power consumption. According to one preferred embodiment,a bifurcated or hybrid processor circuit topology is used for handlingthe various features of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400, whereinthe safety processor is a relatively small, relatively lean processorthat is dedicated to core safety sensor governance and core alarmingfunctionality as would be provided on a conventional smoke/CO alarm, andwherein the system processor is a relatively larger, relativelyhigher-powered processor that is dedicated to more advanced featuressuch as cloud communications, user interface features, occupancy andother advanced environmental tracking features, and more generally anyother task that would not be considered a “core” or “conventional”safety sensing and alarming task.

By way of example and not by way of limitation, the safety processor maybe a Freescale KL15 microcontroller, while the system processor may be aFreescale K60 microcontroller. According to one embodiment, the safetyprocessor is programmed and configured such that it is capable ofoperating and performing its core safety-related duties regardless ofthe status or state of the system processor. Thus, for example, even ifthe system processor is not available or is otherwise incapable ofperforming any functions, the safety processor will continue to performits core safety-related tasks such that the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 still meets all industry and/or government safety standardsthat are required for the smoke, CO, and/or other safety-relatedmonitoring for which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is offered(provided, of course, that there is sufficient electrical poweravailable for the safety processor to operate). The system processor, onthe other hand, performs what might be called “optional” or “advanced”functions that are overlaid onto the functionality of the safetyprocessor, where “optional” or “advanced” refers to tasks that are notspecifically required for compliance with industry and/or governmentalsafety standards. Thus, according to one or more embodiments, althoughthe system processor is designed to interoperate with the safetyprocessor in a manner that can improve the overall performance, featureset, and/or functionality of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400, itsoperation is not required in order for the multi-sensing hazard detector400 to meet core safety-related industry and/or government safetystandards. Being generally a larger and more capable processor than thesafety processor, the system processor will generally consume more powerthan the safety processor when both are active.

Similarly, when both processors are inactive, the system processor willstill consume more power than the safety processor. The system processorcan be operative to process user interface features and monitorinterface sensors (such as occupancy sensors, audio sensors, cameras,etc., which are not directly related to core safety sensing). Forexample, the system processor can direct wireless data traffic on bothhigh and low power wireless communications circuitry, accessnon-volatile memory, communicate with the safety processor, and causeaudio to be emitted from speaker 950. As another example, the systemprocessor can monitor interface sensors to determine whether any actionsneed to be taken (e.g., shut off a blaring alarm in response to a userdetected action to hush the alarm). The safety processor can beoperative to handle core safety related tasks of the multi-sensinghazard detector 400. The safety processor can poll safety sensors (e.g.,smoke, CO) and activate alarm device 960 when one or more of safetysensors indicate a hazard event is detected. The safety processor canoperate independently of the system processor and can activate alarmdevice 960 regardless of what state the system processor is in. Forexample, if the system processor is performing an active function (e.g.,performing a WiFi update) or is shut down due to power constraints, thesafety processor can still activate alarm device 960 when a hazard eventis detected.

In some embodiments, the software finning on the safety processor may bepermanently fixed and may never be updated via a software or firmwareupdate after the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 leaves the factory.Compared to the system processor, the safety processor is a less powerconsuming processor. Using the safety processor to monitor the safetysensors, as opposed to using the system processor to do this, can yieldpower savings because safety processor may be constantly monitoring thesafety sensors. If the system processor were to constantly monitor thesafety sensors, power savings may not be realized. In addition to thepower savings realized by using safety processor for monitoring thesafety sensors, bifurcating the processors can also ensure that thesafety features of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 always work,regardless of whether the higher level user interface works. Therelatively high power wireless communications circuitry can be, forexample, a Wi-Fi module capable of communicating according to any of the802.11 protocols.

By way of example, the relatively high power wireless communicationscircuitry may be implemented using a Broadcom BCM43362 Wi-Fi module. Therelatively low power wireless communications circuitry can be a lowpower Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) module or a ZigBee modulecapable of communicating according to a 802.15.4 protocol. For example,in one embodiment, the relatively low power wireless communicationscircuitry may be implemented using an Ember EM357 6LoWPAN module. Thenon-volatile memory can be any suitable permanent memory storage suchas, for example, NAND Flash, a hard disk drive, NOR, ROM, or phasechange memory. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory can storeaudio clips that can be played back using the speaker 950. The audioclips can include installation instructions or warning in one or morelanguages. The interface sensors can includes sensors that are monitoredby system processor, while the safety sensors can include sensors thatare monitored by the safety processor. Sensors 220 and 232 can bemounted to a printed circuit board (e.g., the same board processor 210and 230 are mounted to), a flexible printed circuit board, a housing ofsystem 205, or a combination thereof.

The interface sensors can include, for example, an ambient light sensor(ALS) (such as can be implemented using a discrete photodiode), apassive infrared (PIR) motion sensor (such as can be implemented usingan Excelitas PYQ1348 module), and one or more ultrasonic sensors (suchas can be implemented using one or more Manorshi MS-P1640H12TR modules).The safety sensors can include, for example, the smoke detection chamber700 (which can employ, for example, an Excelitas module), the COdetection module 970 (which can employ, for example, a Figaro TGS5342sensor), and a temperature and humidity sensor (which can employ, forexample, a Sensirion SHT20 module). The power source can supply power toenable operation of the hazard detector and can include any suitablesource of energy. Embodiments discussed herein can include AC linepowered, battery powered, a combination of AC line powered with abattery backup, and externally supplied DC power (e.g., USB suppliedpower). Embodiments that use AC line power, AC line power with batterybackup, or externally supplied DC power may be subject to differentpower conservation constraints than battery only embodiments.

Preferably, battery-only powered embodiments are designed to managepower consumption of its finite energy supply such that multi-sensinghazard detector 400 operates for a minimum period of time of at leastseven (7), eight (8), nine (9), or ten (10) years. Line poweredembodiments are not as constrained. Line powered with battery backupembodiments may employ power conservation methods to prolong the life ofthe backup battery. In battery-only embodiments, the power source caninclude one or more batteries, such as the battery pack 1000. Thebatteries can be constructed from different compositions (e.g., alkalineor lithium iron disulfide) and different end-user configurations (e.g.,permanent, user replaceable, or non-user replaceable) can be used. Inone embodiment, six cells of Li—FeS₂ can be arranged in two stacks ofthree. Such an arrangement can yield about 27000 mWh of total availablepower for the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.

Referring now to FIGS. 9C and 9D, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a speaker 950 that is electrically coupled withcircuit board 900 so as to receive instructions therefrom. Speaker 950includes a speaker body 952 and one or more mounting flanges 954 thatallow the speaker 950 to be coupled with or mounted on front casing1100. Speaker 950 also includes a plug 956 or other mounting componentthat allows the speaker 950 to be electrically coupled with circuitboard 900. As previously described, speaker 950 may be used to audiblyalert an occupant of a room within which multi-sensing hazard detector400 is positioned, or to provide other messages to the occupant of theroom. For example, speaker 950 may be used to alert a firefighter orother rescuer regarding the occupants remaining in the home or structureafter a fire or other danger is detected or may be used to inform anoccupant of a safest route out of the home or structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a battery pack 1000 of multi-sensing hazarddetector 400. Battery pack 1000 includes a body 1002 within whichbatteries are positioned to power multi-sensing hazard detector 400.Specifically as shown in FIG. 10B, body 1002 includes a batteryreceptacle area 1004 within which the batteries are inserted. Thebatteries of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may be rechargeable orone time use batteries as is common in the art. In some embodiments,multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may be designed to be a replaceableunit so that upon discharge of the batteries the entire multi-sensinghazard detector unit is replaced. In other embodiments, the back plate600 and front casing 1000 of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may beremoved by a user so as to be able to access and replace the batteries.

Body 1002 includes one or more holes or apertures 1008 that allow thebattery pack 1000 to be coupled with or otherwise mounted to themulti-sensing hazard detector 400, such as by attaching the battery pack1002 to front casing 1100, back plate 600, and/or the like. Battery pack1000 also includes an electrically coupling component 1006 that isconfigured to connect with circuit board 900 to provide power to thecircuit board and the various components mounted thereon, such as thesmoke chamber 700, the ultrasonic sensors 972 and 974, themicroprocessors, the PIR sensor(s), and the like.

Battery pack 1000 further includes a radially arranged flange 1010 thatis designed to function operationally with a button of front casing1100. In some embodiments, radial flange portion 1010 is configured tosupport the button of front casing 1100. In other embodiments, radialflange portion 1010 may be designed to limit a vertical travel of thebutton as is pressed by user. The radial flange portion 1010 may becoupled with the front casing via a coupling component 1012, such as byinserting a screw through the coupling component 1012 which is theninserted into the front casing 1100.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-C, illustrated are front and rear perspectiveviews of the front casing 1100. FIGS. 11D-F illustrate cross sectionviews of front casing 1100 taken along a plane parallel to and passingthrough a central axis of the front casing and orthogonal to one of thesides of front casing 1100. As shown in FIGS. 11A-C, front casing 1100includes a body portion or main body 1102 having a front surface and aplurality of sides arranged therearound that define a recessed region.As described herein, front casing 1100 is coupled with back plate 600 todefine a housing of smoke chamber 400. The housing includes an interiorregion due to the recessed region of front casing 1100. The variouscomponents described herein that are positioned between the back plate600 and front casing 1100 are contained within the interior region ofthe housing. As shown in the figures, front casing 1100 may comprise aroughly square configuration although other configurations (e.g.,circular, oval, rectangular, and the like) are possible. In oneembodiment, the square front casing 110 may be approximately 132 mm by132 mm.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-D, the body portion 1102 of front casing 1100includes a central region within which the tens button 1200, light ring1220, and flex ring 1240 are positioned. The central region includes abutton portion 1106 that may be flexed axially inward relative to bodyportion 1102 as lens button 1200 is pressed inwardly 1142 by a user,such as to provide input to multi-sensing hazard detector 400. In oneembodiment, the input to multi-sensing hazard detector 400 may be usedto signal the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to perform a desiredaction, such as quieting an alarm device or for other reasons. Buttonportion 1106 includes a plurality of arms 1133 that are attached to aninner surface of an aperture region of front casing 1100. The arms 1133are also attached to tabs 1134 that extend radially outward from thecircumferential edge of button portion 1106. The arms 1133 allow thebutton portion 1106 to be pressed axially inward relative to frontcasing 1100 while maintaining the tabs 1134 in a “loaded state” when thebutton portion 1106 is not pressed axially inward. The term “loadedstate” means that the tabs 1134 are pressed axially outward against aninwardly facing surface 1132 of body portion 1102 when the buttonportion 1106 is not pressed axially inward. In some embodiments, thetabs 1134 may press axially outward against a ledge of the inwardlyfacing surface 1132. The arms 1133 also provide button portion 1106 andthe components coupled therewith (e.g., lens button 1200, light ring1220, and flex ring 1240) with rotational and positional stability bykeeping the button portion 1106 centered relative to body portion 1102and preventing button portion 1106 from rotating circumferentiallyrelative to body portion 1102.

Maintaining the tabs 1134 in the loaded state in which the tabs 1134 arepressed axially outward against the inwardly facing surface 1132 of bodyportion 1102 allows the button portion 1106 to rotate about one or morepoints of contact 1136 between the tabs 1134 and the inwardly facingsurface 1132 when the tens button 1200 is pressed substantiallyoff-center or off-axis relative to a central axis of button portion1106. FIG. 11D illustrates the button portion 1106 rotating about apoint of contact 1136 between a tab 1134 and the inwardly facing surface1132 as the lens button 1200 is pressed substantially off-axis (i.e.,arrow 1142). Pressing the lens button 1200 and/or button portion 1106substantially off-center or off-axis means that the respective componentis pressed at a position radially away from an axis of the buttonportion 1106 that causes one side of the button portion 1106 to rotatewhile an opposite side of the button portion 1106 remains pressedaxially outward against the inwardly facing surface 1132 of body portion1102. In some embodiments, the lens button 1200 and/or button portion1106 need not be pressed far from axis of button portion 1106 to causethe one sided rotation of button portion 1106 described above, althoughin other embodiments the lens button 1200 and/or button portion 1106 mayneed to be pressed relatively far from the axis of button portion 1106to cause this rotation.

Pivot point(s) or points of contact 1136 are created by contact betweenone or more tabs 1134 and the inwardly facing surface or inner ledge(s)1132 axially below which the tabs 1134 are positioned. The buttonportion 1106 pivots about these points of contact 1136 as the lensbutton 1200 is pressed off-center axially. Deflection of the buttonportion 1106 axially inward causes a bottom surface 1140 of the buttonportion 1106 to contact a switch 1138 positioned axially inward of thebutton portion 1106, which in turn provides a signal to circuit board900. In this manner, a user may provide input to multi-sensing hazarddetector 400. If the lens button 1200 is pressed roughly on-centerrelative to the central axis of button portion 1106, the arms 1133 allowthe entire lens button 1200 and button portion 1106 to travelsubstantially downward axially so that no pivot point 1136 is created.Maintaining the tabs 1134 in the loaded state and creating the pivotpoint 1136 as described above allows the button (1200 and 1106) to havea substantially more consistent button feet, regardless of the locationof a downwardly applied force,

Referring now to FIGS. 11E-F, in some embodiments, the front casing 1100and button portion 1106 may be formed as a single integral piece orcomponent, thereby eliminating any issues arising from coupling separatecomponents together as in conventional devices. The front casing 1100and button portion 1106 may be formed (e.g., integrally molded) so thatarms 1133 are “preloaded” or biased in an axially upward state orotherwise configured to bias the tabs 1134 axially upward against theinwardly facing surface 1132 of body portion 1102. As shown in FIG. 11E,front casing 1100 may be formed so that the arms 1133 hold or maintainthe tabs 1134 in a first state in which the tabs 1134 are positionedaxially outward relative to the inwardly facing surface or inner ledges1132 of body portion 1102. In some embodiments, recesses or pockets maybe formed above the inwardly facing surface 1132 within which the tabs1134 reside when in the first state or when the front casing 1100 isinitially formed. As shown in FIG. 11F, the arms 1133 may be flexedaxially inward to reposition the button portion 1106 and tabs 1134 in asecond state relative to body portion 1102 and the inwardly facingsurface 1132. Repositioning the button portion 1106 and tabs 1134 to thesecond state involves positioning the tabs 1134 axially inward relativeto the inwardly facing surface 1132. Since the arms 1133 are formed tohold or maintain the tabs 1134 in the first state axially outward of theinwardly facing surface 1132, repositioning the tabs 1134 so that thetabs 1134 are disposed axially inward of the inwardly facing surface1132 stresses or loads the arms 1133 and causes the arms to load orpress the tabs 1134 axially outward against a the inwardly facingsurface or inner ledges 1132. In this manner, the pivot point or pointsof contact 1136 are created and the lens button 1200 and button portion1106 are caused to rotate as the lens button 1200 and/or button portion1106 are pressed axially off center as previously described.

As shown by the arrows in FIG. 11E, the tabs 1134 may be repositionedfrom axially outward relative to inwardly facing surface 1132 to aposition axially inward relative to inwardly facing surface 1132 bymoving one tab 1134 angularly outward relative to body portion 1102while simultaneously moving an opposite tab 1134 angularly inwardrelative to body portion 1102. The opposite tab 1134 (i.e., the tabmoved angularly inward) may then be repositioned axially inward of andunder the inwardly facing surface 1132. The front casing 1100 may thenbe rotated and opposing tabs 1134 moved angularly outward and angularlyinward as described above to move a second tab 1134 under the inwardlyfacing surface 1132.

To reposition a tab 1134 under the inwardly facing surface 1132 when anopposing tab 1134 is already positioned under the inwardly facingsurface, the entire button portion 1106 may be moved angularly inwardrelative to body portion 1102 so that the tab 1134 that is positionedaxially outward of the inwardly facing surface 1132 may be so movedaxially inward and repositioned under the inwardly facing surface 1132.In this manner each of the tabs 1134 may be repositioned from axiallyoutward of the inwardly facing surface 1132 to axially inward of theinwardly facing surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-C, button portion 1106 includes a pluralityof posts 1123 that are configured to couple with light ring 1220 asdescribed herein. Button portion 1106 also includes a plurality ofaxially outward extending flanges 1122 that correspond to similarlyshaped flanges of flex ring 1240 and that facilitate in orienting andcoupling the flex ring 1240 with button portion 1106. Button portion1106 further includes an aperture 1120 through which a tail end orribbon 1244 of flex ring 1240 is inserted to allow the tail end orribbon 1244 of flex ring 1240 to be electrically coupled with circuitboard 900.

Front casing 1100 also includes a first aperture 1108 a and a secondaperture 1108 b through which the first ultrasonic sensor 972 and secondultrasonic sensor 974 are positioned. Stated differently, the firstultrasonic sensor 972 may be configured to be inserted partially orfully through the first aperture 1108 a so that the first ultrasonicsensor 972 is able to view external object or individuals through frontcasing 1100. Likewise, the second ultrasonic sensor 974 may beconfigured to be inserted partially or fully through a second aperture1108 b so that the second some sensor 974 is able to view externalobjects or individuals through the front casing 1100. In someembodiments, the front surface of the first ultrasonic sensor 972 and/orsecond ultrasonic sensor 974 may be positioned in front of the frontsurface of front casing 1100 so that the front surface of the firstultrasonic sensor 972 and/or second ultrasonic sensor 974 is positionedessentially between the front casing 1100 and the cover plate 1300. Inthis arrangement, the first ultrasonic sensor 972 and/or secondultrasonic sensor 974 need only view external objects through the coverplate 1300 rather than viewing external objects through both cover plate1300 and front casing 1100. An axis of first aperture 1108 a may bedirected substantially outward relative to front casing 1100 to allowthe first ultrasonic sensor 972 to view objects substantially directlyoutward from multi-sensing hazard detector 400. An axis of secondaperture 1108 b may be angularly offset from the axis of first aperture1108 a to allow the second ultrasonic sensor 974 to view objects at anangle offset and downward relative to first aperture 1108 a andmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 as previously described. In someembodiments, the angular offset between the axis of first aperture 1108a and the axis of second aperture 1108 b may be roughly 30°. In otherembodiments the angular offset may be between about 15° and 45°, 20° and40°, and the like.

Body portion 1102 of front casing 1100 further includes a plurality ofopenings 1104 that allow air to substantially freely flow to one or moreinternal components through the front casing 1100. Air flows through theplurality of openings 1104 in a relatively unimpeded manner, therebyincreasing airflow to the internal components of multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, such as smoke chamber 700. In this manner, detection ofthe presence of smoke or other conditions may be enhanced due to theincreased air flow. In one embodiment, a collective area of the openings1104 of front casing 1100 is between about 10% and about 60% of the areaof front casing 1100's front surface, A collective area of between 10%and 60% is believed to increase airflow into the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 and/or into smoke chamber 700. In a specific embodiment, acollective area of the openings 1104 of front casing 1100 is at least20% of the surface area of front casing 1100. A collective area of atleast 20% of openings 1104 is likewise believed to greatly enhanceairflow into multi-sensing hazard detector 400 and/or to one or moreinternal components positioned axially inward of front casing 1100, suchas smoke chamber 700, CO detector, one or more microprocessors, and thelike. In another embodiment, the collective area of openings 1104 offront casing 1100 is between about 10% and about 40% of the surface areaof front casing 1100. Among other advantages, this collective areafacilitates and/or optimizes airflow into multi-sensing hazard detector400 and/or to the internal components.

In one embodiment, front casing 1100 is at least 2 millimeters thick andcomposed of a Polycarbonate (PC) and/or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS) plastic material, such as those manufactured by LG Chem ltd. andsold under the tradename Lupoy® GP1006FM. In another embodiment, thefront casing 1100 is composed of a ABS+PC plastic material, such asthose manufactured by LG Chem ltd. and sold under the tradename Lupoy®GN5001RFH. The materials used in the front casing 1100 are typicallyflame rated V0 or higher to allow the front casing 1100, in view of theopening/hole pattern shown, to exhibit acceptable flame retardancedespite having multiple openings or holes. In some embodiments, thediameter of each of the openings 1104 may be varied along the frontsurface of front casing 1100. The above described inventions andmaterial of front casing 1100 allows the front casing to exhibitacceptable flame retardance despite having a plurality of holes and arelatively large portion of the front surface open.

FIG. 11G illustrates a close up perspective vie of the arrangement ofthe button portion 1106 and body portion 1102 of front casing 1100.Specifically, FIG. 110 illustrates the inwardly facing surface 1132 ofbody portion 1102 that is positioned opposite an outwardly facingsurface (not shown) of body portion 1102 that faces a room within whichthe multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned. The button portion1106 is attached to the body portion 1102 via the plurality of arm 1133.FIG. 11G illustrates four arms 1133 coupling the button portion 1106 tothe body portion 1102, although more or fewer arms 1133 may be used. Asdescribed above, the arms 1133, button portion 1106, and body portion1102 may be formed as a single component, such as by molding thecomponents together. The arms 1133 allow the button portion 1106 to beaxially movable relative to the body portion 1102 such as to activatethe switch 1138 positioned axially behind the button portion 1106. Thearms 1133 also rotation and positionally stabilize the button portion1106 relative to body portion 1102 as described above.

The tabs 1134 extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of thebutton portion 1106. FIG. 11G illustrates the button portion 1106including four tabs 1134, although more or fewer tabs 1134 may be usedas desired. Each tab 1134 is positioned under and contacts the inwardlyfacing surface 1132 of the body portion 1102 such that when a force isapplied to the button portion 1106, or a lens button 1200 coupledtherewith, at a position substantially offset from a central axis of thebutton portion 1106, the button portion 1106 pivots about one or morecontact points 1136 between the tabs 1134 and the inwardly facingsurface 1132 of the body portion 1102. As described above, the arms 1133are coupled with the button portion 1106 and the body portion 1102 in amanner that biases the button portion 1106 axially outward relative tothe body portion 1102. This causes the tabs 1134 to press against theinwardly facing surface 1132 of the body portion 1102 and creates thecontact points 1136.

As shown in FIG. 11G, each of the arms 1133 includes a proximal end anda distal end with a main body extending therebetween. Each arm 1133 isfixed to the body portion 1102 at the proximal end and fixed to thebutton portion 1106 at the distal end. The main body of each arm 1133extends circumferentially around a portion of the button portion 1106.The distal end of each arm 1103 is coupled with a tab 1134 of the buttonportion 1106. The button portion 1106 is positioned substantiallycentrally relative to the body portion 1102.

FIGS. 11H-J illustrate the movement and/or rotation of the buttonportion 1106 and lens button 1200 as they pressed by a user.Specifically, FIG. 11H shows the lens button 1200 being pressed 1142axially inward on a left edge portion of the lens button 1200, or inother words, substantially off-axis from the axis of button portion1106. Pressing on the left edge portion of the lens button 1200 causesone or more tabs 1134 positioned on or near the right edge of the buttonportion 1106 to contact 1136 the inwardly facing surface 1132 of thebody portion 1102 (i.e., shown in the circle area). The lens button 1200and button portion 1106 pivot about the contact point 1136 between thetab(s) 1134 and the inwardly facing surface 1132, which causes thebutton portion 1106 to move axially inward and rotate relative to bodyportion 1102 and contact switch 1138 positioned axially inward of thebutton portion 1106. As described previously, the arms (not shown) biasthe button portion 1106 axially outward relative to body portion 1102 sothat in a non-pressed condition, the tabs 1134 are pressed axiallyoutward against the inwardly facing surface 1132 of body portion 1102.Thus, when the user stops pressing 1142 the left edge of lens button1200, the left edge of lens button 1200 and button portion 1106 willrotate outward so that all of the tabs 1134 press axially outwardagainst the inwardly facing surface 1132.

FIG. 11I shows the lens button 1200 being pressed 1143 axially inward onor near the axis of button portion 1106. Pressing “on-axis” of the lensbutton 1200 and button portion 1106 essentially causes the entire buttonportion 1106 to move axially inward such that none of the tabs 1134, orvery few tabs, contact the inwardly facing surface 1132 of the bodyportion 1102. In such instances, the lens button 1200 and button portion1106 do not pivot about any contact point 1136 between the tabs 1134 andthe inwardly facing surface 1132. The button portion 1106 still movesaxially inward relative to the body portion 1102 to contact switch 1138positioned axially inward of the button portion 1106. The arms (notshown) bias the button portion 1106 axially outward relative to bodyportion 1102 so that in a non-pressed condition, the tabs 1134 arepressed axially outward against the inwardly facing surface 1132 of bodyportion 1102. Thus, when the user stops pressing 1143 on or near thecenter of lens button 1200, the lens button 1200 and button portion 1106move axially outward so that all of the tabs 1134 press axially outwardagainst the inwardly facing surface 1132.

FIG. 11J shows the lens button 1200 being pressed 1144 axially inward ona right edge portion of the lens button 1200, or in other words,substantially off-axis from the axis of button portion 1106. Pressing onthe right edge portion of the lens button 1200 causes one or more tabs1134 positioned on or near the left edge of the button portion 1106 tocontact 1136 the inwardly facing surface 1132 of body portion 1102(i.e., shown in the circle area). The lens button 1200 and buttonportion 1106 pivot about the contact point 1136 between the tab(s) 1134and the inwardly facing surface 1132, which causes the button portion1106 to move axially inward and rotate relative to body portion 1102 andcontact switch 11138 positioned axially inward of the button portion1106. The arms (not shown) bias the button portion 1106 axially outwardrelative to body portion 1102 so that in a non-pressed condition, thetabs 1134 are pressed axially outward against the inwardly facingsurface 1132 of body portion 1102. Thus, when the user stops pressing1144 the right edge of lens button 1200, the right edge of lens button1200 and button portion 1106 rotates outward so that all of the tabs1134 press axially outward against the inwardly facing surface 1132.

The configurations of FIGS. 11A-J provide an improved button “click”feel to users, especially compared with conventional hazard detectorbutton members. The buttons described herein may also provide improvedtactile feedback so that the users recognize when the action has beenperformed, such as when the button portion 1106 contacts switch 1138.For example, the user may feel the button portion 1106 move axiallyinward and contact the switch 1138 and thus recognize that input hasbeen provided to the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.

Referring now to FIG. 16, illustrated is a method 1600 of making acasing having a pressable button portion. At block 1602, a casingcomponent is formed. The casing component includes a body portion, abutton portion, and a plurality of arms that attach the button portionto the body portion. The body portion includes an outwardly facingsurface and an inwardly facing surface opposite the outwardly facingsurface. The button portion includes a plurality of tabs that extendradially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion. Theplurality of arms attach the button portion to the body portion with theplurality of tabs being positioned axially outward relative to theinwardly facing surface of the body portion. The plurality of armsallows the button portion to be movable relative to the body portion. Atblock 1604, the button portion is repositioned relative to the bodyportion so that the plurality of tabs are positioned axially inward ofthe inwardly facing surface of the body portion. Repositioning thebutton portion in this manner causes the plurality of arms to bias thebutton portion axially outward relative to the body portion so that theplurality of tabs press against the inwardly facing surface of the bodyportion.

Contact between the plurality of tabs and the inwardly facing surface ofthe body portion causes the button portion to pivot relative to the bodyportion when a force is applied to the button portion substantiallyoff-axis from a central axis of the button portion. In some embodiments,the body portion, button portion, and the plurality of arms areintegrally molded as a single component. In some embodiments, a Fresnellens member may be coupled to the button portion (block 1606). TheFresnel lens member may function as a pressable button and as a lens fora passive infrared (PIR) sensor positioned axially inward of the Fresnellens member.

A similar method of making a casing having a pressable button portionmay include forming a casing component having a body portion and abutton portion. The casing component may be formed such that one or moretabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the buttonportion are positioned axially outward relative to an inwardly facingsurface of the body portion. The method may also include repositioningthe button portion relative to the body portion such that the one ormore tabs of the button portion are positioned axially inward of theinwardly facing surface of the body portion. Repositioning the buttonportion relative to the body portion in this manner causes the one ormore tabs to be biased radially outwardly against the inwardly facingsurface of the body portion.

In some embodiments, the method may further include coupling a Fresnellens member to the button portion. The Fresnel lens member may functionas a pressable button and as a lens for a passive infrared (PIR) sensorpositioned axially inward of the Fresnel lens member. The body portionand the button portion may be integrally molded as a single component.

As described herein, the front casing 1100 may be formed (e.g., molded)so that the button portion 1106 is an integrally connected to the bodyportion 1102. Forming these components as a single piece may increasemanufacturing and assembly efficiency. Other components of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 may likewise be formed to increasesome form of efficiency. For example, in some embodiments, the frontcasing 100 and/or cover plate 1300 may be formed with perforatedsurfaces instead of holes so that a user may punch holes into the frontcasing 1100 and/or cover plate 1300 after the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 is purchased and/or mounted to a wall or ceiling. In thismanner, the pattern and/or sizing of the holes may be varied as desiredfrom front casing 1100 and/or cover plate 1300 stock components. Stateddifferently, the perforated front casing 1100 and/or cover plate 1300may be stock components that provide configurable hole patterns and/orhole sizing as desired.

Similarly, the protective plate 800 that is coupled with the circuitboard 900 may have trimmable edges that allow a stock protective platecomponent to be manufactured and easily trimmed to size depending on thesize of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 for which the protectiveplate 800 will be used. In one embodiment, the protective plate 800 mayhave perforated regions that allow various holes, slots, apertures, andthe like to be formed in the protective plate 800, such as formid-mounting of various multi-sensing hazard detector components.

The cover plate 1300, mounting plate 500, and/or back plate 600 maylikewise have trimmable edges that allow the dimensions of thesecomponents to be adjusted as desired. These components may also haveperforated regions or portions that allow various holes, slots,apertures, and the like to be formed in these components so as to createair vents, decorative hole pattern designs, and the like. In this mannerthe component count that is required to produce a variety of shaped andsized multi-sensing hazard detectors may be greatly reduced.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A and 12B, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a button cap component 1200 (hereinafter lensbutton 1200). Lens button 1200 includes a front surface 1202 that facesa room in which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned anda rear surface 1204 that is opposite the front surface. Lens button 1200is configured to be coupled with front casing 1100, and specifically thebutton portion 1106 of front casing 1100, by attaching lens button 1200to light ring 1220, and coupling light ring 1220 to the button portion1106 of front casing 1100. In some embodiments, lens button 1200 may becoupled directly to the button portion 1106 without being coupled to thelight ring 1220.

Lens button 1200 provides a visually appealing surface that may bepressed by a user to provide input to multi-sensing hazard detector 400and/or for various other purposes, such as quieting an alarm device.Pressing tens button 1200 effectuates axial movement of the buttonportion 1106 of the front casing 1100, which causes the button portion1106 to contact a switch positioned behind the button portion 1106 onthat input may be provided to the multi-sensing hazard detector by anoccupant. Lens button 1200 is further configured to be transparent toone or more sensors positioned behind lens button 1200. For example, inone embodiment, a PIR sensor is positioned behind lens button 1200. ThePIR sensor is able to view external objects through lens button 1200 todetermine if an occupant is present within a room in which multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is positioned.

The rear surface 1204 of lens button 1200 may have a Fresnel lensingcomponent or element 1206 (hereinafter Fresnel lens element 1206)integrally formed thereon that allows one or more IR sensors, or anothersensor (e.g., CCD camera), positioned behind lens button 1200 to viewfar into the room in which multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ispositioned. Lens button 1200 is typically positioned axially in front ofthe PIR or other sensor(s) to direct infrared radiation onto the sensordevice. Further, the Fresnel lens element 1206 is formed on the rearsurface 1204 of lens button 1200 so as to be hidden from external view.Lens button 1200 provides a visually pleasing contour that may match acontour of the exterior of cover plate 1300 so that when coupled withcover plate 1300, lens button 1200 and cover plate 1300 have a visuallycontinuous contour. Similarly, the Fresnel lens element 1206 may becontour-matched to a contour of the rear surface 1204 of lens button1200. The Fresnel lens element 1206 may be made from a high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE) that has an infrared transmission range appropriatefor sensitivity to human bodies.

In one embodiment, Fresnel lens element 1206 may include a plurality ofconcentrically arranged rings that each include a plurality of lensletsand that each provide a slightly different viewing cone. Eachconcentrically arranged ring may provide a progressively larger viewingarea or cone than a concentrically arranged located radially closer to acentral axis of lens button 1200. In one embodiment, an internal angleof the viewing cones provided by Fresnel lens element 1206 may vary frombetween about 15° and about 150° so as to provide a viewing radius on afloor or wall positioned directly in front of the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 at a distance of approximately 10 feet of between about 0.5m and about 8.8 m. In this manner, the PIR sensor, or other sensor,positioned behind lens button 1200 may easily detect the presence of anoccupant within a room in which multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ispositioned.

Referring now to FIGS. 12G-I, according to one embodiment, the Fresnellens element 1206 may include 3 concentrically arranged rings that eachinclude a plurality of lenslets. Each of the lenslets is a separateFresnel lens. Each lenslet should be designed based on a location andorientation in the detector with respect to the PIR sensor(s) 150, aswell as depending on the monitoring area desired to be viewable by thePIR sensor(s) via the lenslet. In selecting the number of lenslets,there is a tradeoff between light collection and size of each zone. Ithas been found the described Fresnel lens element 1206 is suitable for awide-range of applications, although other numbers and sizes of lensletscan be used.

According to one embodiment, the Fresnel lens element 1206 may have aradius of curvature of between about 150 and 350 mm. A greater radius ofcurvature may be better because it typically provide a smaller incidentlight angle, which may reduce light loss. Greater radius of curvature,however, may be more difficult to produce. The described range of 150 to350 mm has been found to provide an ideal amount of light loss andmanufacturability. In other embodiments, the Fresnel lens element 1206may have a radius of curvature of between about 200 and 300 mm, or about250 mm, which provide even greater light loss and manufacturabilityaspects. According to one embodiment, the Fresnel lens element 1206 mayprovide a total of 24 lenslets that each view a different portion of theroom in which the device is located. The 24 lenslets may focus infraredlight from various directions onto the PIR sensor so that the sensor isable to detect the heat of an individual or object within the roomand/or passing the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.

As shown in FIG. 12G, a first or inner ring may include 6 lenslets(i.e., 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16) that provide viewing cones havinginternal angles of roughly 18°, 40°, and 61° respectively. The viewingcones provide a viewing radius on a floor or wall positionedapproximately 10 feet in front of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400of approximately 0.5 m (meters), 1.1 m, and 1.8 m respectively. As shownin FIG. 2J, the first or inner ring may have a radius of between about 3and 4 mm from a central axis of the Fresnel lens element 1206, and morecommonly have a radius of about 3.6 mm from the central axis. A centerof the first or inner ring, which corresponds to a center of Fresnellens element 1206 and lens button 1200, may be positioned between 1 and30 mm axially above the PIR sensor. The spacing of the PIR sensor andlens depends on the number of lenslets used, the field of view desired,the size of the lens, and the like. In another embodiment, the center ofthe first or inner ring may be positioned between 5 and 15 mm axiallyabove the PIR sensor. This spacing has been demonstrated to provide agood viewing coverage range while maintaining a relatively compactmulti-sensing hazard detector profile. In one embodiment, the center ofthe first or inner ring may be positioned about 8 mm axially above thePIR sensor, which has been demonstrated to provide an optimal sensorcoverage area and compact detector size. An angle measured from thecentral axis of the Fresnel lens element 1206 to a central portion ofthe first or inner ring may be about 20°.

As shown in FIG. 12H, a second or middle ring may also include 6lenslets (i.e., 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26) that provide viewing coneshaving internal angles of roughly 54°, 75°, and 96° respectively. Theviewing cones provide a viewing radius on the floor or wall positionedapproximately 10 feet in front of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400of approximately 1.5 m, 2.3 m, and 3.4 m respectively. As shown in FIG.2J, the second or middle ring may have a radius of between about 5 and 7mm from the central axis of the Fresnel lens element 1206, and morecommonly have a radius of about 6.2 mm from the central axis. An anglemeasured from the central axis of the Fresnel lens element 1206 to thecentral portion of the second or middle ring may be about 37°.

As shown in FIG. 12I, a third or outer ring may include 12 lenslets(i.e., 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 310, 311, and 312) thatprovide viewing cones having internal angles of roughly 118°, 130°, and142° respectively. The viewing cones provide a viewing radius on thefloor or wall positioned approximately 10 feet in front of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 of approximately 5 m, 6.5 m, and 8.8 mrespectively. As shown in FIG. 2J, the third or outer ring may have aradius of between about 14 and 18 mm from a central axis of the Fresnellens element 1206, and more commonly have a radius of about 16.6 mm fromthe central axis. A central portion of the third or outer ring may bebetween 12 and 16 mm measured diagonally at a 58° angle from the PIRsensor. In one embodiment, the center of the third or outer ring may beabout 14 mm measured diagonally at the 58° angle from the PIR sensor.The 58° angle may correspond to an angle measured from the central axisof the Fresnel lens element 1206 to the central portion of the third orouter ring. In some embodiments, the effective focal length of eachlenslet and/or placement of the focal center points of each lenslet maybe designed so as to compensate for the lenslets being on a spherical orcontoured surface so that the Fresnel lens element 1206 can match thecontour of the cover plate 1300 and/or multi-sensing hazard detector400.

Referring now to FIGS. 12C and 12D, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a tight ring 1220 that may be used to disperselight provided by an LED or other light source so as to provide a haloeffect behind and around lens button 1200. Light ring 1220 includes abody portion 1222 and may be coupled with lens button 1200 via adhesivebonding, one or more fasteners, or any other method known in the art. Inturn, light ring 1220 may be coupled with front casing 1100 such as byorienting light ring 1220 with respect to button portion 1106 of frontcasing 1100 and pressing light ring 1220 axially downward relative tofront casing 1100 on that recessed portions 1225 of light ring 1220 mateand couple with posts 1123 of front casing 1100. Posts 1123 may fit overthe recessed portions 1225 of light ring 1220 and secure light ring 1220adjacent button portion 1106. Light ring 1220 also includes a pluralityof second recesses 1224 within which LEDs (not shown) or other lightsource may be positioned to illuminate light ring 1220. In operation,light ring 1220 disperses light provided by the LEDs, or other lightsources, circumferentially around the lens button 1200 to produce a halolight effect axially behind and around lens button 1200.

Referring now to FIGS. 12E and 12F, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a flexible circuit board or flex ring 1240 that mayelectrically couple components positioned in front of circuit board 900,such as lens button 1200, with circuit board 900. Flex ring 1240includes a tail end or ribbon 1244 that is insertable into a componentof circuit board 900 to electrically couple lens button 1200, light ring1220, and/or one or more components with circuit board 900. Flex ring1240 also includes a central portion that may include a PIR sensor 1250that is positioned so as to be axially behind lens button 1200. The PIRsensor 1250 faces a room within which the multi-sensing hazard detector400 is positioned. As discussed herein, the PIR sensor 1250 has a fieldof view into the room such that objects or individuals present in theroom and within the field of view are detectable by the PIR sensor 1250.The PIR sensor 1250 is also communicatively coupled with circuit board900 to provide information thereto and/or receive information therefrom.

The central portion of flex ring 1240 further includes a plurality offlanges 1246 that mate with the flanges 1122 of front casing 1100 so asto orient flex ring 1240 relative to front casing 1100 and/or coupleflex ring 1240 therewith. Specifically, a channel 1248 between flanges1246 may fit around flange 1122 of front casing 1100 to orient andcouple flex ring 1240 with front casing 1100. Flex ring 1240 furtherincludes a circumferentially arranged ring portion 1242 having aplurality of LED tights 1252, or other source of light, coupledtherewith. The plurality of LED lights 1252 are arranged an as to beinsertable within recessed portions 1224 of light ring 1220. LED lights1252 illuminate light ring 1220 to disperse light circumferentiallyaround lens button 1200 and produce the halo light effect relativethereto as (previously described. A bottom surface of the centralportion of flex ring 1240 includes a pressable button 1251 that isactuated as lens button 1200 is pressed by a user. In this manner, inputis provided to the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 by the user aspreviously described.

In some embodiments, components in addition to or instead of the PIRsensor 1250 may be positioned behind the lens button 1200. For example,in one embodiment a microphone (not shown) may be positioned behind thelens button 1200 or elsewhere on the multi-sensing hazard detector 400.The microphone can be operated to listen to noises that occur within theroom in which the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned. In aspecific embodiment, the microphone can be activated and the noisetransmitted to another room for various purposes, such as monitoring theactivity level of a newborn child or determining if an intruder hasentered the home.

In another embodiment, the color of the light ring 1220 positionedbehind axially the lens button 1200 may be adjusted to provideinformation or messages to an occupant of the home or structure. Forexample, the light ring 1220 of the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ina parent's room can be adjusted to glow red if the PIR sensor 1250 ofanother multi-sensing hazard detector 400 located in a child's roomfails to detect the presence of the child. Similarly, the light ring1220 may glow yellow and/or flash when the multi-sensing hazard detector400 senses the presence of an individual (e.g., an intruder) entering adoorway of the home after a certain period of time (e.g., after 11:00p.m.).

In another embodiment, the color of the light ring 1220 of themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 may be adjusted based on the time ofyear. For example, the produced halo light may glow orange around thethanksgiving holiday and may glow white each time snow fall occurs inthe area. In another embodiment, the color of the light ring 1220 may beadjusted to indicate potential issues within the home, such as amalfunctioning appliance or other component. For example, a smartthermostat may detect an abnormality with the heating system of the homeand relay this information to the multi-sensing hazard detector 400. Themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 may flash red to indicate to theoccupant that a potential issue has been detected and/or to warn theoccupant to investigate the potential issue. An email or message may besent to the occupant by one of the smart home devices (e.g., smartmulti-sensing hazard detector 400, smart thermostat, and the like) tonotify the occupant of the detected issue. In some embodiments, thelight ring 1220 may flash a number of times, or change color, toindicate the room in which the potential abnormality was detected. Forexample, the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 could flash once for afirst room (e.g., kitchen), twice for a second room (e.g., masterbedroom), and the like.

In some embodiments, the PIR sensor 1250 may be replaced with an opticalCCD sensor. In such embodiments, the Fresnel lens 1206 may be a trueoptical imaging lens for light in the visible spectrum. The CCD sensormay provide optical pictures and/or video of individuals and/or objectswithin the room and within the field of view of the CCD sensor. The lens1206 may also serve as a user-pressable button. In other embodiments,the PIR sensor 1250, Fresnel lens 1206, and/or CCD sensor may beincorporated in any of a variety of different smart-home devices, suchas security cameras, doorbells, garage door openers, entertainmentdevices, and on forth. Essentially, these components may be incorporatedinto any device where an occupancy detecting function of a PIR sensorand/or CCD sensor might be useful and where there is a need for a frontselectable button.

Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13B, illustrated are front and rearperspective views of a cover plate 1300 that may be coupled with a frontsurface of front casing 1100. Cover plate 1300 is configured to face anoccupant of a room in which multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ispositioned. Cover plate 1300 includes a body portion 1302 having aplurality of openings 1306 that provide a visually pleasing appearanceto an occupant of the room in which multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ispositioned. The openings 1306 may be circular in shape and, in oneembodiment, have a diameter of between about 1.25 and 2.5 millimeters.Openings 1306 may cover a relatively large portion of body 1302. In someembodiments, cover plate 1300 may comprise a square configuration havingdimensions of approximately 134 mm by 134 mm. Cover plate 1300 may havea thickness of about or at least 0.5 mm and more commonly about 0.6 mm,although other thicknesses are possible. In one embodiment, the diameterof one or more openings 1306, or substantially all openings, may beabout the same as a wall thickness or spacing between edges of adjacentopenings 1306 of cover plate 1300. In another embodiment, the openings1306 may be about twice the wall thickness between adjacent openings1306.

In one embodiment, the size of the openings 1306 may be varied such thatbody 1302 comprises a plurality of different sized openings 1306.Similarly, the shape of openings 1306 may be varied so thatconfigurations other than circular configurations are included (e.g.,oval, square, rectangular, diamond, triangular, and the like). Bodyportion 1302 of cover plate 1300 also includes a centrally locatedaperture 1304 within which lens button 1200 and light ring 1220 arepositioned.

As described previously, the ultrasonic sensors (i.e. 972 and 974) arepositioned distally behind cover plate 1300. Openings 1306 areconfigured and dimensioned so that an occupant of the room in whichmulti-sensing hazard detector 400 is positioned is unable to see theinternal components of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 behind coverplate 1300, such as ultrasonic sensors 972 and 974. Openings 1306further allow air to flow substantially freely behind cover plate 1300and to the one or more internal components positioned there behind. Airflows through the cover plate 1300 in a relatively unimpeded manner,such that air flow into the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 and/or toone or more internal components is substantially increased due to theopenings 1306 of cover plate 1300. In addition, openings 1306 allowobjects or individuals in front of cover plate 1300 to be viewable bythe one or more sensors positioned behind cover plate 1300. For example,the ultrasonic sensors 972 and/or 974, or other sensors, position behindcover plate 1300 are capable of detecting objects and/or persons frombehind the cover plate 1300. The sensors 972 and/or 974, however, arenot viewable by occupants of the room in which the detector 400 ispositioned.

As described herein, cover plate 1300 includes a relatively largepopulation of relatively small openings 1306. For example, body 1302 mayinclude 1000-2000 or more of such openings 1306. The number and spacingof openings 1306 depends on the diameter of the openings 1306 and/or thedesign or pattern of the openings 1306 used. In one embodiment, acollective area of the openings 1306 may be between about 20% and about80% of the total surface area of cover plate 1300. In anotherembodiment, the collective area of the openings 1306 may be at least 30%of the total surface area of cover plate 1300. Even though the scope ofthe disclosure is not necessarily so limited, it has been found that acollective area of openings 1306 of at least 30% is beneficial becauseit provides good air flow through cover plate 1300 to the one or morecomponents positioned there behind. In one embodiment, the collectivearea of openings 1306 may be at least 20% of the total surface area ofcover plate 1300. A collective area of 20% of openings 1306 may not beas advantageous with respect to air flow as a collective area of 30%;however, the collective area of 20% may he more advantageous for hidinginternal components of multi-sensing hazard detector 400 from view ofoccupants of the room, such as sensors 972 and 974.

In another embodiment, the collective area of openings 1306 may be atleast 40% of the total surface area of cover plate 1300. In a furtherembodiment, the collective area of openings 1306 may be at least 50% ofthe total surface area of cover plate 1300. In still a furtherembodiment, the collective area of openings 1306 may be at least 60% ofthe total surface area of cover plate 1300. As briefly described above,the increasingly greater collective area of openings 1306 may beadvantageous with respect to air flow through cover plate 1300, but maynot be advantageous for hiding internal components of multi-sensinghazard detector 400 from view. Stated differently, for air flowpurposes, a collective area of openings 1306 of 50% is generally betterthan a collective area 40%, while a collective area of 60% is generallybetter than a collective area of 50%. In contrast, for visibility ofinternal components purposes, a collective area of openings 1306 of 40%is generally better than a collective area of 50%, while a collectivearea 50% is generally better than a collective area of 60%, Thecollective area of openings 1306 used may depend on the internalcomponents of the multi-sensing hazard detector, an intended distance ofthe multi-sensing hazard detector from an occupant, the function orpurpose of the multi-sensing hazard detector, and the like.

The openings 1306 may be arranged with respect to body 1302 according toa repeating pattern. For example, in one embodiment the openings 1306are arranged with respect to body 1302 according to a Fibonaccisequence. Such arrangement provides a visually pleasing appearance tooccupants of the room in which multi-sensing hazard detector 400 ispresent, thereby allowing multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to bevisually attractive and/or appear as a decorative object rather thanappearing as a component of an appliance as with many conventional smokedetectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other hazard detectors. Forsome embodiments, the arrangement of openings 1306 and the patternprovided thereby may be designed so as to produce any desired visualeffect. For example, the openings 1306 may be arranged so as to appearas an animal, a famous landmark, a trademark or brand image (e.g. NFLfranchise logo and the like), and the like. In some embodiments, thearrangement of openings 1306 may be custom designed by occupant of thehome or structure in which the multi-sensing hazard detector willreside.

The openings 1306 in the cover plate 1300 and/or front casing 1100 mayallow the multi-sensing hazard detector 400 to be used for additionalpurposes. For example, in one embodiment, LED lights (not shown) can bemounted on or otherwise coupled with the front casing 1100 and behindthe cover plate 1300. The LED lights can be illuminated so as to bevisible to occupants within the room or area in which the multi-sensinghazard detector 400 is located. The LED lights may functions as part ofa warning or alarm mechanism to alert the occupant to a possible danger.Such a feature may be highly desirable for individuals that are hearingdisabled or that have hearing disable friends or relatives or otherwiseanticipate hearing disabled visitors within the home or structure. TheLED lights may not be visible to the occupants until or unless the LEDlights are illuminated.

In some embodiments, instructions may be visually displayed through thecover plate 1300 via LED lights, or an LCD panel, mounted behind thecover plate 1300. For example, the LED lights could be used incombination with the speaker 950 of the multi-sensing hazard detector400 to help occupants of the home or structure safely exit thestructure. The speaker 950 may alert the occupant to proceed to an exitindicated by an arrow that is displayed through the cover plate 1300 viathe LED lights (e.g., flashing or static display). When a home orbuilding includes multiple multi-sensing hazard detectors 400,information may be passed to each of the multi-sensing hazard detectors400, or the multi-sensing hazard detectors 400 may be controlled via acentral control, so that each of the multi-sensing hazard detectors 400displays an arrow that directs occupants to safely exit the building orhome. The arrows displayed may be controlled so as to lead the occupantsaway from a source of the alarm, such as a fire, or away from areas ofhigh CO concentration and the like.

In a similar manner, the LEDs may lead firefighters or other rescuers tothe source of the alarm, such as the source of the fire. Likewise, whena PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or another sensor, detects the presenceof an occupant in the home or structure, the LEDs behind cover plate1300 may visually display the number of occupants that remain in thehome or structure to a firefighter or rescuer. Such features may greatlyassist the firefighter or rescuer in assessing any risks related to thealarm and in quickly finding and rescuing occupants.

In one embodiment, each opening 1306 may include one or more LED lightspositioned there behind such that as a whole, the entire surface ofcover plate 1300 and multi-sensing hazard detector 400 becomes orappears to become like an LED screen. In this manner, each opening 1306functions as a “pixel” of the LED screen. The LED screen or lights maybe used to display various information to an occupant or occupants, suchas current CO levels, battery status, various messages, alarm sourcelocation, short videos, and the like. In some embodiments, the visiblepatterns of the LED lights can be formed into artistic shapes such asmay impress vision in the mind of the viewer. For example, the LEDlights may be used to form a famous symbol such as Abe Lincoln, used toform an image of an animal, such as an eagle, used to form variouspopular trademarks or brand marks, such as an NFL franchise logo, andthe like.

Referring now to FIGS. 14A and 14B, an example “silence gesture” will bedescribed. As shown in FIG. 14A at block 1404, an occupant is standingin room 1412 while an alarm in smoke or multi-sensing hazard detector400 is active and making a “BEEP” sound. A light 1410, such as an LED,is provided on an outer portion of the smart multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, such that the occupant 1408 can see the light 1410 when itis turned on. The operation of the light 1410 will be described withreference to FIG. 14B. Suffice to say for FIG. 14A, the light is turnedoff in blocks 1404 through 1424. As shown at block 1416, the occupant1408 has walked to a position closer to the smart multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, which is mounted out of reach on the ceiling of the room.As shown at block 1420, the occupant 1408 walked to a position evencloser to the smart multi-sensing hazard detector 400, such that theoccupant 1408 is almost directly under the smart multi-sensing hazarddetector 400. As shown at arrow 1428 of block 1424, the occupant 1408,while standing almost directly under the smart multi-sensing hazarddetector 400, is beginning to extend an arm upward, toward the smartmulti-sensing hazard detector 400.

Referring now to block 1430 of FIG. 14B, the arm of the occupant 1408 isextended upward, toward the smart multi-sensing hazard detector 400,while the occupant is standing almost directly under the smartmulti-sensing hazard detector 400. After an alarm sounds and the pulserate increases, the ultrasonic sensor the smart multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 “looks” for a trigger to the “silence gesture” period,which is the amount of time the “silence gesture” must be maintained todeactivate the alarm. According to some embodiments, the trigger is adistance change from a baseline, and to deactivate the alarm thedistance change must be maintained for the entire “silence gesture”period (e.g., three seconds). For example, if the baseline is a distancebetween the sensor and the floor of the room, then the sensor is lookingfor an object to come in between it and the floor, thereby changing thedistance measured by the sensor. In some embodiments, the distancechange must be significant enough to ensure that someone is close andlikely intends to silence the alarm. For example, if the distance to thefloor is ten feet, then the requisite distance change could be eightfeet or eighty percent of the original distance. As such, the objectwould be required to be within two feet of the sensor to trigger the“silence gesture” period, and to deactivate the alarm, the object mustremain there for the duration of the period. The requisite distancechange can be configured based on the height of the ceiling and based onthe height of the occupants, among other things.

Referring still to block 1430, the light 1410 is turned on when theoccupant 1408 successfully triggers the “silence gesture” period,thereby signaling to the occupant 1408 to remain in the position for therequisite period, such as three seconds. Here, the hand of the occupant1408 triggered the “silence gesture” period. A tolerance is built insuch that if the occupant 1408 slightly moves and loses but quicklyregains the signal, the “silence gesture” period will continue withouthaving to start over. As shown in block 1434, the occupant kept the handin within the requisite distance of the sensor for the duration of the“silence gesture” period and, thus the alarm has been deactivated, the“BEEP” has stopped, and the light 1410 has turned off. As shown atblocks 1438 and 1442, the occupant 1408 can walk away from themulti-sensing hazard detector 400 and resume normal activity.

It should be appreciated that, in the event the multi-sensing hazarddetector 400 is of a design that receives reliable power from the wiringof the home (rather than being battery powered), a CCD chip could beused to detect the “silence gesture”. However, such an arrangement maybe less suitable than ultrasonic sensors for battery-poweredmulti-sensing hazard detectors 400 because the CCD chips and associatedprocessing can consume a relatively large amount of power and mayquickly drain the battery. Other possible alternatives to ultrasonicsensors 792 and 794 include passive IR sensors, thermopile (e.g.,thermo-cameras), laser-distance measuring, laser and a camera incombination because camera looks for dot instead of time of arrival(Doppler shift), and a full on camera and image processing system.

According to some embodiments, to enhance the reliability andeffectiveness of the silence gesture, the ultrasonic sensor 792 and/or794 could work in concert with the PIR sensor to make the sensing evenbetter. For example, when an occupant attempts to silence by placing ahand in field, the PIR will sense this, and thereby trigger the “silencegesture” period. The ultrasonic sensor 792 and/or 794 could also work inconcert with the thermopile (e.g., thermo-camera), where both distancechange and heat are used to detect the silence gesture. For example, thethermo-camera detects when human hand is nearby and triggers the“silence gesture” period. Further, the ultrasonic sensor 792 and/or 794could work in concert with the ambient tight sensor. For example, whenthe places a hand in the field and blocks light, then the ambient lightsensor know the occupant is nearby and thus triggers the “silencegesture” period.

It should be appreciated that, according to embodiments, similar“gesture” controls can be applied to other smart devices in the home,such as to the smart thermostat, the smart wall switches, etc. Forexample, there can be gestures for increasing or decreasing temperaturecontrols, for turning on and off lights, HVAC, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 15, illustrated is a method of manufacturing amulti-sensing hazard detector and/or a method of use thereof. At block1510 a back plate is provided. As described herein, back plate iscouplable with a wall or structure so as to secure the multi-sensinghazard detector relative thereto. At block 1520, a front casing iscoupled with the back plate so as to define a housing having an interiorregion within which components of the multi-sensing hazard detector arecontained. At block 1530, a circuit board is coupled with the backplate. A hazard sensor may then be mounted on the circuit board. Thehazard sensor may include one or more components that are configured todetect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger an alarmdevice. For example, at block 1540 a smoke chamber is coupled with thecircuit board so that the smoke chamber is mid-mounted relative to thecircuit board. As described herein, the mounting of the smoke chamber ischaracterized in that a top surface of the smoke chamber is positionedabove a top surface of the circuit board and a bottom surface of thesmoke chamber is positioned below a bottom surface of the circuit board.In this configuration smoke and air are flowable into the smoke chamberfrom both the top surface of the circuit board and the bottom surface ofthe circuit board.

In some embodiments, one or more additional sensors (e.g. ultrasonicsensors, PIR sensors, and the like) may be mounted on the circuit board.The sensors may be configured to detect the presence and/or movement ofobjects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector. Atblock 1550, a cover plate may be coupled with the front casing so thatthe cover plate faces an occupant of a room or area in which themulti-sensing hazard detector is positioned. As described herein, thecover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively smallopenings. The openings are positioned, configured, and dimensioned onthat internal components are substantially hidden from view of theoccupant, while air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the oneor more internal components through the cover plate in a relativelyunimpeded manner, and while the one or more sensors are capable ofdetecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate. Insome embodiments, a collective area of the openings may comprise atleast 30% or more of the cover plate. At block 1560, the multi-sensinghazard detector is operated to detect a potentially hazardous condition.Detecting a potentially hazardous condition may include detecting thepresence of smoke, detecting abnormally high CO levels, detecting heatlevels, and the like.

Referring next to FIG. 17, an exemplary environment with whichembodiments may be implemented is shown with a computer system 1700 thatcan be used by a user 1704 to remotely control, for example, one or moreof the sensor-equipped smart-home devices according to one or more ofthe embodiments. The computer system 1710 can alternatively be used forcarrying out one or more of the server-based processing paradigmsdescribed hereinabove can be used as a processing device in a largerdistributed virtualized computing scheme for carrying out the describedprocessing paradigms, or for any of a variety of other purposesconsistent with the present teachings. The computer system 1700 caninclude a computer 1702, keyboard 1722, a network router 1712, a printer1708, and a monitor 1706. The monitor 1706, processor 1702 and keyboard1722 are part of a computer system 1726, which can be a laptop computer,desktop computer, handheld computer, mainframe computer, etc. Themonitor 1706 can be a CRT, flat screen, etc.

A user 1704 can input commands into the computer 1702 using variousinput devices, such as a mouse, keyboard 1722, track ball, touch screen,etc. If the computer system 1700 comprises a mainframe, a designer 1704can access the computer 1702 using, for example, a terminal or terminalinterface. Additionally, the computer system 1726 may be connected to aprinter 1708 and a server 1710 using a network router 1712, which mayconnect to the Internet 1718 or a WAN.

The server 1710 may, for example, be used to store additional softwareprograms and data. In one embodiment, software implementing the systemsand methods described herein can be stored on a storage medium in theserver 1710. Thus, the software can be run from the storage medium inthe server 1710. In another embodiment, software implementing thesystems and methods described herein can be stored on a storage mediumin the computer 1702. Thus, the software can be run from the storagemedium in the computer system 1726. Therefore, in this embodiment, thesoftware can be used whether or not computer 1702 is connected tonetwork router 1712. Printer 1708 may be connected directly to computer1702, in which case, the computer system 1726 can print whether or notit is connected to network router 1712.

With reference to FIG. 18, an embodiment of a special-purpose computersystem 1800 is shown. For example, one or more of intelligent components116, processing engine 306 and components thereof may be aspecial-purpose computer system 1800. The above methods may beimplemented by computer-program products that direct a computer systemto perform the actions of the above-described methods and components.Each such computer-program product may comprise sets of instructions(codes) embodied on a computer-readable medium that directs theprocessor of a computer system to perform corresponding actions. Theinstructions may be configured to run in sequential order, or inparallel (such as under different processing threads), or in acombination thereof. After loading the computer-program products on ageneral purpose computer system 1826, it is transformed into thespecial-purpose computer system 1800.

Special-purpose computer system 1800 comprises a computer 1802, amonitor 1806 coupled to computer 1802, one or more additional useroutput devices 1830 (optional) coupled to computer 1802, one or moreuser input devices 1840 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, track ball, touchscreen) coupled to computer 1802, an optional communications interface1850 coupled to computer 1802, a computer-program product 1805 stored ina tangible computer-readable memory in computer 1802. Computer-programproduct 1805 directs system 1800 to perform the above-described methods.Computer 1802 may include one or more processors 1860 that communicatewith a number of peripheral devices via a bus subsystem 1890. Theseperipheral devices may include user output device(s) 1830, user inputdevice(s) 1840, communications interface 1850, and a storage subsystem,such as random access memory (RAM) 1870 and non-volatile storage drive1880 (e.g., disk drive, optical drive, solid state drive), which areforms of tangible computer-readable memory.

Computer-program product 1805 may be stored in non-volatile storagedrive 1880 or another computer-readable medium accessible to computer1802 and loaded into memory 1870. Each processor 1860 may comprise amicroprocessor, such as a microprocessor from Intel® or Advanced MicroDevices, Inc.®, or the like. To support computer-program product 1805,the computer 1802 runs an operating system that handles thecommunications of product 1805 with the above-noted components, as wellas the communications between the above-noted components in support ofthe computer-program product 1805. Exemplary operating systems includeWindows® or the like from Microsoft Corporation, Solaris® from SunMicrosystems, LINUX, UNIX, and the like.

User input devices 1840 include all possible types of devices andmechanisms to input information to computer system 1802. These mayinclude a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a scanner, a digital drawing pad,a touch screen incorporated into the display, audio input devices suchas voice recognition systems, microphones, and other types of inputdevices. In various embodiments, user input devices 1840 are typicallyembodied as a computer mouse, a trackball, a track pad, a joystick,wireless remote, a drawing tablet, a voice command system. User inputdevices 1840 typically allow a user to select objects, icons, text andthe like that appear on the monitor 1806 via a command such as a clickof a button or the like. User output devices 1830 include all possibletypes of devices and mechanisms to output information from computer1802. These may include a display (e.g., monitor 1806), printers,non-visual displays such as audio output devices, etc.

Communications interface 1850 provides an interface to othercommunication networks and devices and may serve as an interface toreceive data from and transmit data to other systems, WANs and/or theInternet 1718. Embodiments of communications interface 1850 typicallyinclude an Ethernet card, a modem (telephone, satellite, cable, ISDN), a(asynchronous) digital subscriber line (DSL) unit, a FireWire®interface, a USB® interface, a wireless network adapter, and the like.For example, communications interface 1850 may be coupled to a computernetwork, to a FireWire® bus, or the like. In other embodiments,communications interface 1850 may be physically integrated on themotherboard of computer 1702, and/or may be a software program, or thelike.

RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880 are examples of tangiblecomputer-readable media configured to store data such ascomputer-program product embodiments of the present invention, includingexecutable computer code, human-readable code, or the like. Other typesof tangible computer-readable media include floppy disks, removable harddisks, optical storage media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, bar codes,semiconductor memories such as flash memories, read-only-memories(ROMs), battery-backed volatile memories, networked storage devices, andthe like. RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880 may be configuredto store the basic programming and data constructs that provide thefunctionality of various embodiments of the present invention, asdescribed above.

Software instruction sets that provide the functionality of the presentinvention may be stored in RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880.These instruction sets or code may be executed by the processor(s) 1860.RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880 may also provide arepository to store data and data structures used in accordance with thepresent invention. RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880 mayinclude a number of memories including a main random access memory (RAM)to store of instructions and data during program execution and aread-only memory (ROM) in which fixed instructions are stored. RAM 1870and non-volatile storage drive 1880 may include a file storage subsystemproviding persistent (non-volatile) storage of program and/or datafiles. RAM 1870 and non-volatile storage drive 1880 may also includeremovable storage systems, such as removable flash memory.

Bus subsystem 1890 provides a mechanism to allow the various componentsand subsystems of computer 1802 communicate with each other as intended.Although bus subsystem 1890 is shown schematically as a single bus,alternative embodiments of the bus subsystem may utilize multiple bussesor communication paths within the computer 1802.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a memory. Memory may be implemented within the processor orexternal to the processor. As used herein the term “memory” refers toany type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or otherstorage medium and is not to be limited to any particular type of memoryor number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium” may representone or more memories for storing data, including read only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic diskstorage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/orother machine readable mediums for storing information The term“machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable orfixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels,and/or various other storage mediums capable of storing that contain orcarry instruction(s) and/or data.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those ofskill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Additionally, a number of well-known processes and elementshave not been described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresent invention. Accordingly, the above description should not betaken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller rangebetween any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and anyother stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed.The upper and lower limits of these smatter ranges may independently beincluded or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neitheror both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassedwithin the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in thestated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits,ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are alsoincluded.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a process” includes aplurality of such processes and reference to “the device” includesreference to one or more devices and equivalents thereof known to thoseskilled in the art, and so forth.

Also, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and“includes” when used in this specification and in the following claimsare intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers,components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or additionof one or more other features, integers, components, steps, acts, orgroups.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-sensing hazard detector for use in abuilding or structure for detecting potential dangers therein, themulti-sensing hazard detector comprising: a back plate that is couplablewith a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so as to secure themulti-sensing hazard detector relative thereto; a front casing coupledwith the back plate to define a housing having an interior region withinwhich a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector areat least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openingsthrough which air flows so that the air is accessible to the componentswithin the interior region of the housing; a circuit board coupled withthe housing and having the plurality of components communicativelycoupled therewith, the plurality of components including: an alarmdevice communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the alarm devicebeing activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warnan occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger; anoccupancy sensor communicatively coupled with the circuit board, theoccupancy sensor being configured to detect the presence and/or movementof objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector;and a smoke chamber communicatively coupled with the circuit board andconfigured to detect the presence of smoke and to trigger the alarmdevice upon the detection of smoke; wherein the housing of themulti-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024cubic centimeters; and wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector isrelatively flat so as not to extend excessively outwardly from the wallor ceiling, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a minimum aspectratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly fromthe wall or ceiling divided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicularto said thickness dimension, the multi-sensing hazard detector having amaximum aspect ratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extendingoutwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by a shortest lateraldimension perpendicular to said thickness dimension, wherein each ofsaid minimum aspect ratio and said maximum aspect ratio is less thanabout 33%.
 2. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein themulti-sensing hazard detector further comprises a cover plate coupledwith the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area inwhich the multi-sensing hazard detector is positioned, wherein the totalvolume of the multi-sensing hazard detector including said cover plateis less than about 1024 cubic centimeters.
 3. The multi-sensing hazarddetector of claim 1, wherein the minimum aspect ratio is less than about24% and the maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%.
 4. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein a lateral shape of themulti-sensing hazard detector in a plane perpendicular to the thicknessdimension is generally square or rectangle.
 5. The multi-sensing hazarddetector of claim 4, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includesreadable lettering along a predetermined direction of a front surfacethereof, whereby when mounted on a wall or ceiling a user recognizes aproper orientation of said multi-sensing hazard detector.
 6. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 2, wherein the volume of thehousing of the multi-sensing hazard detector is less than about 450cubic centimeters.
 7. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 6,wherein a thickness of the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detectorand cover plate is less than 40 mm.
 8. The multi-sensing hazard detectorof claim 6, wherein the lateral dimension of the housing is between therange of about 120 mm and 190 mm.
 9. The multi-sensing hazard detectorof claim 1, wherein the back plate comprises a 110 mm ×110 mm generallysquare configuration.
 10. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9,wherein the housing comprises a 134 mm ×134 mm generally squareconfiguration, and wherein the housing comprises a thickness of about 38mm.
 11. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein theoccupancy sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor, and wherein theplurality of components further include a passive infrared sensor thatis configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/orpersons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector.
 12. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the smoke chamber ismid-mounted with respect to the circuit board, said mid-mountingfacilitating a flatness of said multi-sensing hazard detector so as tominimize said maximum and minimum aspect ratios.
 13. The multi-sensinghazard detector of claim 1, wherein said multi-sensing hazard detectorfurther comprises an outwardly facing PIR sensor comprising a Fresnellens configured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facing angle.14. A method of using a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:providing a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising: a back plate thatis couplable with a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so asto secure the multi-sensing hazard detector relative thereto; a frontcasing coupled with the back plate to define a housing having aninterior region within which a plurality of components of themulti-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, thehousing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so thatthe air is accessible to the components within the interior region ofthe housing; a circuit board coupled with the housing and having theplurality of components communicatively coupled therewith, the pluralityof components including: an alarm device communicatively coupled withthe circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detectionof a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building orstructure of a potential danger; an occupancy sensor communicativelycoupled with the circuit board, the occupancy sensor being configured todetect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons externalto the multi-sensing hazard detector; and a smoke chambercommunicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured to detectthe presence of smoke and to trigger the alarm device upon the detectionof smoke; wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detectorcomprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters; andwherein the multi-sensing hazard detector is relatively flat so as notto extend excessively outwardly from the wall or ceiling, themulti-sensing hazard detector having a minimum aspect ratio defined as athickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceilingdivided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicular to said thicknessdimension, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a maximum aspectratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly fromthe wall or ceiling divided by a shortest lateral dimensionperpendicular to said thickness dimension, wherein each of said minimumaspect ratio and said maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%; andoperating the multi-sensing hazard detector within a building orstructure to detect a potential hazard.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the minimum aspect ratio is less than about 24% and the maximumaspect ratio is less than about 33%.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe smoke chamber is mid-mounted with respect to the circuit board, saidmid-mounting facilitating said flatness of said multi-sensing hazarddetector so as to minimize said maximum and minimum aspect ratios.
 17. Amethod for manufacturing a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:providing a back plate, the back plate being couplable with a wall orceiling of a structure so as to secure the smoke detector to thestructure; coupling a front plate with the back plate so as to define ahousing having an interior region within which a plurality of componentsof the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained,the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows sothat the air is accessible to the components within the interior regionof the housing; coupling a circuit board with the housing, the circuitboard being configured to support and electrically couple one or morecomponents of the multi-sensing hazard detector; communicativelycoupling an alarm device with the circuit board, the alarm device beingactivatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn anoccupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;communicatively coupling an occupancy sensor with the circuit board, theoccupancy sensor being configured to detect the presence and/or movementof objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector;and communicatively coupling a smoke chamber with the circuit board, thesmoke chamber being configured to detect the presence of smoke and totrigger the alarm device upon the detection of smoke, wherein couplingthe smoke chamber with the circuit board comprises mid-mounting thesmoke chamber with respect to the circuit board such that an outwardlyfacing surface of the smoke chamber is positioned outward of anoutwardly facing surface of the circuit board and an inwardly facingsurface of the smoke chamber is positioned inward of an inwardly facingsurface of the circuit board, wherein smoke is flowable into the smokechamber from both outward of the outwardly facing surface and inward ofthe inwardly facing surface of the circuit board; wherein the housing ofthe multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about1024 cubic centimeters.
 18. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim1, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a light sourcethat is configured to provide a halo appearance of light emanating aboutat least a portion of the housing, the light source being configured sothat a color of the halo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate apotential issue within the building or structure, to indicate apotential issue with the multi-sensing hazard detector, or to indicate apotential issue with another appliance or component within the buildingor structure.
 19. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 18, whereinthe multi-sensing hazard detector includes a button that is centeredrelative to the front casing and that is arranged with respect to thelight source so that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirelyaround the button.
 20. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 19,wherein the plurality of components communicatively coupled with thecircuit board include an antenna and wireless communications circuitrythat enables remote communication with the multi-sensing hazarddetector.
 21. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein thefront casing includes a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern thatextends from a central portion of the front casing to a perimeter of thefront casing.
 22. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 21, whereinthe plurality of holes are arranged so that the holes are spaced closertogether near the central portion of the front casing in comparison tothe perimeter of the front casing.
 23. The multi-sensing hazard detectorof claim 21, further comprising a speaker positioned within the interiorregion of the housing so as to be positioned behind the plurality ofholes.
 24. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 21, wherein themulti-sensing hazard detector includes a light source that is configuredto provide a halo appearance of light emanating about at least a portionof the housing, the light source being configured so that a color of thehalo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate a potential issuewithin the building or structure, to indicate a potential issue with themulti-sensing hazard detector, or to indicate a potential issue withanother appliance or component within the building or structure.
 25. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 24, wherein the multi-sensinghazard detector includes a button that is arranged with respect to thelight source so that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirelyaround the button.
 26. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 25,wherein the button is centered relative to the front casing.
 27. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcomponents communicatively coupled with the circuit board include anantenna and wireless communications circuitry that enables remotecommunication with the multi-sensing hazard detector.
 28. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 27, wherein the multi-sensinghazard detector includes a plurality of LED lights that project lightfrom the multi-sensing hazard detector, a color of the projected lightbeing variable to indicate a potential hazard or other issue related tothe multi-sensing hazard detector or the building or structure withinwhich the multi-sensing hazard detector is positioned.
 29. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 28, wherein the plurality of LEDlights are configured to project light from the front casing of themulti-sensing hazard detector.
 30. The multi-sensing hazard detector ofclaim 29, wherein the LED lights are configured to provide a haloappearance of light about a central portion of the front casing.
 31. Themulti-sensing hazard detector of claim 30, wherein the multi-sensinghazard detector includes a button that is centered relative to the frontcasing and that is arranged with respect to the plurality of LED lightsso that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around thebutton.